Manny Pacquiao will again be the recipient of the Boxer of the Year honor in the Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards Night-Banquet of Champions at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
The 26-year-old native of General Santos City was the hands down choice for the award following another exceptional year that saw him score a controversial split draw against International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in their 12-round title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
This marks the fourth straight year Pacquiao will be awarded with the highest accolade given in honor of Elorde — the late great Filipino who reigned as the world?s longest junior lightweight champion from 1960-67.
The hard-hitting lefty will be eligible for elevation to the Elorde Hall of Fame should he win the award three more consecutive years.
?Manny could be elevated to the Hall of Fame kung mananalo pa siya ng tatlong sunod na taon. That means seven straight years, which symbolizes the number of years Papa [Elorde] reigned as world champion,? said Liza Elorde in Tuesday?s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Manila Pavilion where she was accompanied by husband Johnny Elorde.
