MANILA, Philippines—Before Manny Pacquiao, the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde was the most celebrated boxer in Philippine sports history.
Fighting as a junior lightweight (today’s super featherweight), Elorde defended the world 130-pound title for a record 10 times in a span of seven years (1960 to 1967). He is still held in high esteem long after his death.
A heavy smoker, Elorde died of lung cancer on Jan. 2, 1985.
He was born on March 25, 1935, exactly 73 years ago today. The young Elorde worked as a bowling alley pin boy and, later on, as a bootblack to augment the family’s meager income.
“I quit school and worked at an early age,” Elorde once said. “I was shining shoes in my hometown in Bogo, Cebu, before becoming a boxer.”
He fought and beat little-known boxers in Cebu before he caught the attention of famed boxing promoter Lope “Papa” Sarreal, who later predicted that, “Elorde would be great as a boxer. Walang bisyo (He had no vice).”
In contrast, Papa was a heavy drinker. As a former topnotch salesman, he was also a smooth talker.
According to one story, Papa clinched the deal for Elorde to earn a crack at the World Boxing Council junior lightweight title of Harold Gomes after Sarreal spent a night out with Harold’s American manager in a bar in New York City.
During their drinking spree, Sarreal convinced Gomes’ manager to sign the fight contract, giving his Filipino ward a first shot at the world crown.
Set for 15 rounds, the title fight was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 16, 1960, the day the Big Dome was officially opened to the public.
In that epic fight, Elorde, a southpaw, knocked out Gomes in the seventh round to wrest the crown before a wildly cheering crowd of about 20,000.
After 10 successful title defenses, Elorde lost the 130-lb championship to Japanese challenger Yoshiaki Numata on points in a 15-round match in Tokyo on June 15, 1967.
During his lifetime, Elorde showed one can only be a great boxer through selfless commitment, hard work and humility.
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On Tuesday night, the Elorde clan led by his wife and Tokyo-educated Laura, daughter of Papa Sarreal, and his children, marks his 73rd birth anniversary by hosting the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leads the list of invited guests.
Newly crowned WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will be enshrined into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame during the affair.
Others to be honored are 28 world and international champions and 17 Philippine title-holders, plus boxing officials and the Philippine Sportswriters Association for their contribution to the sport of boxing.
The glittering affair will be held at the Manila Hotel starting at 6 p.m.
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The biggest losers in the ongoing cycling controversy between Philippine Cycling Federation president Bert Lina and a group of national riders, headed by Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Alfie Catalan and Marites Bitbit, are the cyclists themselves.
Twelve national bikers had accused sports officials and the coaching staff led by head coach Jomel Lorenzo of allegedly purchasing inferior and overpriced equipment which they used in the last SEA Games in Thailand. The cyclists brought these charges before the Ombudsman.
Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez said there was nothing wrong with the purchase of the cycling equipment. The row between the cyclists and their officials is an internal affair, he stressed, adding that the PSC would temporarily cut off financial assistance to the association.
In the aftermath of the cycling row, Lina decided to cancel the annual Padyak Pinoy, a multi-stage bikathon where many of the country’s cyclists are looking forward to for a chance to win cash prizes.
