MANILA, Philippines— Pacquiao vs Clottey - Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and five other world beaters will be the major honorees in the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Harbour Tent of the Sofitel Hotel in Manila.
Pacquiao, who wrested Miguel Cotto’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title last November to become the only fighter to win seven crowns in as many weight divisions, leads the awardees as Boxer of the Decade.
Also to be feted in the awards rites commemorating the 25th death anniversary and 75th birth anniversary of Elorde are former and reigning world champions Donnie Nietes (WBO strawweight), Brian Viloria (International Boxing Federation light flyweight), Nonito Donaire (IBF flyweight), Marvin Sonsona (WBO flyweight) and Gerry Peñalosa (WBO bantamweight).
The 28-year-old Nietes defended his title for the second time by scoring a unanimous decision over Erik Ramirez on Feb. 28 last year. In his third defense, Nietes won by split decision over interim champion Manuel Vargas on Sept. 12.
Viloria, 29, won by unanimous decision over Mexican Ulises Solis on April 19 last year. He retained the title via the same verdict over Jesus Iribe on Aug. 29.
Donaire, 28, defended his title by stopping Raul Martinez in the fourth round, also on April 19. He then stopped Mruti Mthalane in a rematch on Aug. 1.
Sonsona won over Jose Lopez via a unanimous decision on Sept. 5 to become the youngest world champion at 20. But his reign was also the shortest—two months and 17 days—when he failed to meet the weight limit against Alejandro Hernandez. The bout ended in a split draw but Sonsona lost the crown under WBO rules.
The 37-year-old Peñalosa was the WBO bantamweight titlist at age 37 before he fought and lost by TKO in the 10th round to Juan Manuel Lopez on April 25 last year.
The event is presented by Johnny Elorde Management International and the Elorde Sports Foundation in cooperation with Pagcor, Smart Communications, Tanduay, Sofitel Hotel, Elorde gyms and Southpaw Bar and Grill.
Fifty years ago on March 16, Elorde stopped Harold Gomez at the Araneta Coliseum to start his seven-year reign as junior lightweight titlist—the longest by any boxer.
Source Roy Luarca - inquirer.net
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