MANILA, Philippines – Brian Viloria, who won the WBO flyweight crown in 2011 and successfully defended it the same year, will stand side by side with four other Filpino world champions in the 12th Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Viloria, called the ?Hawaiian Punch?, wrested the WBO flyweight title by outpointing Julio Cesar Miranda on July 16, 2011 in Honolulu.
It was his third world title in two weight divisions and he retained it with an eighth-round stoppage of Giovani Segura of Mexico on Dec. 10 at the Ynares Sports Center.
The twin victories earned for the 31-year-old Hawaiian Punch the honor as Most Outstanding Boxer of the Year alongside WBC/WBO bantamweight ruler Nonito Donaire, WBO female superbantamweight queen Ana Julaton and WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes.
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao who has already been elevated to the Elorde Hall of Fame will likewise receive a recognition, this time for his accomplishment outside the ring.
The five boxers will receive Philippine boxing?s highest accolade during the Elorde awards rites held in honor of Da Flash, the world?s greatest boxer in the 60s with a record seven-year reign in the world junior lightweight division, from 1960-67.
The awards rites will be held on the occasion of the 77th birth anniversary of the post-war champion, the first Filipino and Asian to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993 and was listed as one of Ring Magazine?s top 80 in the last 80 years.
Also to be honored in the rites hosted by the legend?s wife Laura and the Elorde clan are world, international and Philippine champions and all those who contributed to the promotion of professional boxing during the previous year.
The event is presented by Johnny Elorde Management International in cooperation with COBRA Energy Drink, PAGCOR, PCSO, Procter and Gamble Phils., Smart and Sanicare.
For details and limited tickets to the Banquet of Champions you may call up 09162423657 (Liza), 09172575836 (Beth), 8264463 or 8250625.
