MANILA, Philippines – World champion Manny Pacquiao will be the guest of honor and speaker during the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Annual Memorial Awards-Banquet of Champions on March 25 at The Tent of the Sofitel Hotel.
Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive in Manila tomorrow in time for the awards rites where he will also be honored as the Boxer of the Decade alongside other world, international and Philippine champions in 2009.
The annual rites, hosted by the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Sports Foundation in cooperation with the Johnny Elorde International Management, Inc. and COBRA Energy Drink as co-presentor, will present the highest honor, the Boxer of the Decade, to Pacquiao and the Boxer of the Year to six other world champions on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary and 25th death anniversary of Hall of Famer Flash Elorde, who ruled the world junior lightweight division from 1960 to 1967.
Six world champions to be honored are Nonito Donaire (IBF flyweight), Donnie Nietes (WBO strawweight), Brian Viloria (IBF jr flyweight), Gerry Pe?alosa (WBC light flyweight), Marvin Sonsona (WBO flyweight) and Rodel Mayol (WBC light flyweight).
To receive major awards are world and international champions in the strawweight (five honorees), lightflyweight (8), flyweight (7), super flyweight (1), bantamweight (8), super bantamweight (5), featherweight (5), super featherweight (1), and lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight (1).
Gretchen Abaniel, the lone woman champion, will be honored as the WIBA minimumweight titleholder.
Also joining the exclusive Banquet of Champions are 15 Philippine champions of 2009. To be cited under the category of Top Honorees are Michael Aldeguer (best promoter), Vice Gov. Emmanuel Pi?ol (best manager), Buboy Fernandez (best trainer), Silvestre Abainza (best referee) and Mark Jason Melligen (most promising boxer).
The fight between Michael Landero and Rolen del Castillo for the Philippine minimumweight title on Nov. 21 last year in Zamboanga City has been adjudged best fight of the year.
Special awards recipients are Naris Singwacha (boxing promoter/manager from Bangkok, Thailand), Para?aque Mayor Florencio Bernabe and Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad.
Special citations will be awarded to former Olympic medalists Leopoldo Serrantes (bronze medalist, 1988 Seoul Olympics), Roel Velasco (bronze medalist, 1992 Barcelona Olympics) and Ricardo Fortaleza (gold medalist, 1970 Bangkok Asian Games).
Also to be honored are amateur female boxer of the year Annie Albania, silver medalist in the world championship and gold medalist in the Laos SEA Games last December, and amateur male boxer of the year Charly Suarez, gold medalist also in Laos.
Posthumous awards will be presented to the family of the late boxing promoter and manager Rod Nazario.
The Elorde awards are sponsored by COBRA Energy Drink, Smart, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Tanduay, Family Rubbing Alcohol and Sofitel Hotel.
