| |
|
Elorde grandson ready to rumble
By Virgi T. Romano PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Now that he has graduated from college, Juan Martin Vicencio Elorde will now fulfill his very first dream - to become a boxer - just like his father and grandfather.
Juan Martin or Bai, to his family and friends, is now training at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) gym at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for about five months.
The 21-year-old, 5?8? Bai, a graduate of Hotel, Restaurant & Institution Management from (La Salle) St.Benilde College, is the son of Johnny (Elorde), who once gave the Philippines a gold medal honor during the 1979 SEA Games in Jakarta. And most significantly, Bai is a grandson of the ?Greatest Filipino Boxer? Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
And just like his father and lolo, Bai campaigns in the lightweight division.
Bai showed he has the potential of making it big in the amateur scene, when he easily outlasted his opponent at the 2002 National Open held in Iriga City, where he won a gold medal.
?Actually, ABAP was offering a spot for Bai in the national team after he won in Iriga, but he simply refused it because he wants to finish first his studies,? said Liza (Elorde), wife of Johnny and mother of Bai.
And just like other Filipino boxers from the ABAP?s fold, Bai?s ultimate goal is to win the very first gold medal in the Olympic Games.
"That's his ultimate goal, although mahirap, pero malay natin siya 'yung suwertehin," Liza added.
Bai, together with the other national boxers were scheduled to compete in King?s Cup in Bangkok (April 4-10) before political turmoil brought about by calls for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down, shelved the tourney.
The Philippines has yet to win a gold medal in the Olympics and the best the Filipino had achieved were two silvers courtesy of Anthony Villanueva (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and Mansueto Velasco Jr. (1996 Atlanta Olympics).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Virgi T. Romano.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Past Week in Action 16 June 2025: Hitchins Stops Kambosos; Wins by Andy Cruz and Teremoana; Donaire Returns By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 9 - MUHAMMAD ALI WINS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025OKC Nears First NBA Title in Thunder Era; Outclasses Indiana, 120-109 in Game 5 By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025Crawford Refutes #3 P4P Ranking; WBA Doesn't Forget Nonito Donaire By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025GM John Paul Gomez joins Touchmove in Roxas City By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025Perfect foe, perfect outcome By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez , Tue, 17 Jun 2025Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN , Tue, 17 Jun 2025International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission , Tue, 17 Jun 2025Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team Concluded World Boxing Championship 2025 With Nine Medals , Mon, 16 Jun 2025"The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Makes Stunning Comeback, Wins Interim WBA 118-lbs Title in Argentina!! (PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM? By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Pinoy Power! Pacquiao, Donaire, and Araneta Ready to Shine in World Title Fights By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025“PROSPECTS COLLIDE” TAKES CENTER STAGE , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Nonito Donaire Favorite to Beat Andrés Campos for WBA Interim World Title; Both Men Make Weight Ready in Argentina! By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Oklahoma Forces 2-2 Finals Series Tie, Starves Indiana for Point in 111-104 Win By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025PROSPECTS COLLIDE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Hitchins vs. Kambosos: Can George Be More Than A Faded Name? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Four Boxers Advance to Gold Medal Matches on Day Three of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem , Sat, 14 Jun 2025WEIGHTS FROM NEW YORK: HITCHINS - 140 LBS., KAMBOSOS - 139.4 LBS. By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Gaviola to face Narukami in Gensan By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Pacquiao Steps Up Training By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|