Manila (27 March) — The outstanding achievements of boxing legends Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao serve as inspirations for the country to produce “more and more world-class” Filipino boxers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said last night.
In her speech keynoting ceremonies leading to the induction of Pacquiao into the prestigious Elorde Hall of Fame at the Manila Hotel’s Centennial Hall, the President said that the numerous awards bestowed on Elorde, Pacquiao and the myriad of other Filipino boxing greats prove that the Filipino has what it takes to become a champion.
“That’s why yung leadership example ni Manny Pacquiao at saka ni Flash Elorde at yung mga ibang awardees sa araw na ito really inspires us to put in stronger effort to develop more and more world-class boxers,” she said.
The President added that she had directed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez to step up boxing training for Filipino pugilists because “this is one sport where we can compete globally even in the Olympics.”
“Kaya ang aking utos kay PSC chairman Butch Ramirez ay ma-train ang ating mga boxers sa mga Olympics, talagang no-holds-barred, talagang all the best training they can get, we will give it to them because they are our hope for gold (medals) in the Beijing Olympics,” the President said.
Elorde was the longest-reigning world junior lightweight champion and the toast of the boxing world from 1960 to 1967. The extraordinary feat, which made Elorde one of the world’s greatest boxers of all time, earned for him a niche in the International Boxing Hall of Fame ? the first Filipino to be so honored after pre-war legend Pancho Villa.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, holds the distinction of being the very first Asian to hold titles in three different weight categories — the world super-featherweight, flyweight, and junior-featherweight.
Pacquiao, who wrested the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight crown by split decision from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 16 in Las Vegas, becomes the first Elorde Hall of Famer after successfully fulfilling the body’s stringent requirement of being awarded the Boxer of the Year Award for seven years.
The other 2007 boxer-of-the-year awardees last night were International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Gerry Pe?alosa, IBF minimum weight titlist Florante Condes and WBO minimum weight king Donnie Nietes. (PIA) [top]
