Cebu-based boxing personalities dominated the 7th Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Awards Night, also known as the ?Banquet of Champions,? last Sunday in Makati City.
Except for the ?Boxer of the Year Award,? which went to Manny Pacquiao, and the Elorde Golden Belt that was given to the World boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight champion Brian Viloria, other awards went to Cebu-based boxers, managers and promoters. They were lauded for their outstanding contribution to Philippine boxing last year.
SGG Sports Promotions? Sammy Gello-ani was named Promoter of the Year, while Rex ?Wakee? Salud was named Manager of the Year.
Boholano teen sensation ALA Boy Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, and Mandaue City?s Rodel Mayol, the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) 105-pound king, were handed the 2005 Regional Champion Awards uncontested.
Bautista, now under a promotional contract with the Golden Boy Promotions, is gearing up for another US appearance on May 20, while Mayol is heating up his preparations for his world-title challenge against Japan-based Thai boxer Eagle Kyowa on May 6 in Japan.
Promising boxers
ALA Gym?s Czar Amonsot of Tagbilaran City was hailed the ?Most Promising Boxer? with the former WBC flyweight champion and current OPBF bantamweight titlist Malcolm Tu?acao, ex-OPBF 130lb champion Randy Suico, RP welterweight king Dondon Sultan, World Boxing Association Pan-African 108lb champion Bert Batawang, OPBF welterweight titlist Rev Santillan, World Boxing Federation super-lightweight champion Dindo Casta?ares, RP super-featherweight titleholder Jimrex Jaca, RP bantamweight king Michael Domingo, ex-RP mini-flyweight champion Elmer Gejon and RP lightweight king Bart Abapo.
The boxing website Philboxing.com of Cebuano Dong Secuya was given citation. Secuya also maintains the de facto website of Pacquiao, Mannypacquiao.ph.
With Cebuanos dominating the awards, organizers Johnny and Laura Elorde, son and widow of the late boxing great, announced that the awards night will likely be held in Cebu next year to give a fitting tribute to the Filipino boxing legend, who was born and raised in Bogo, Cebu.
