Elorde Awards to fete Donnie Nietes

MANILA, Philippines—Donnie Nietes will be honored as one of the top boxers of 2011 during the 12th Elorde Boxing Awards/Banquet of Champions to be held during the 77th birth anniversary of the former seven-time world junior lightweight champion on March 25 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.

Nietes moved up last year to the light flyweight division where he wrested his second division crown with a unanimous decision over Ramon Garcia Hirales of Mexico in his hometown in Bacolod on Oct. 8. He has a record of 29 wins (16 by KO), 1 loss amd 3 draws.

With his victory, the former undefeated minimumweight champion who defended his crown for a record four times, joined pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and WBO/WBC bantamweight ruler Nonito Donaire Jr. in the elite roster of multidivision title holders.

The Banquet of Champions is being presented by Johnny Elorde Management International and the Elorde Foundation incooeperation with Cobra Energy Drink, PCSO, Sanicare Asia, Smart and Procter & Gamble Phils.

The Elorde Boxing Awards will also give recognition to Filipino international and national champions and all individuals and institutions that have contributed to professional boxing in the past year.