A fitting tribute to the late matriarch of Philippine boxing and the actual fist casting of two legendary Filipino world champions are part of the special program lined up in Saturday’s Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde 23rd Boxing Awards Banquet of Champions at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom in Paranaque City.
Posthumous award will be given to Laura Elorde, wife of the ‘Flash’ who quietly passed away in May of 2020, and considered as the brain behind the Banquet of Champions which is making a comeback after a three-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic.
And then there’s the fist casting to be done on former multiple world champions Nonito Donaire Jr. and Luisito Espinosa, both regarded as among the greatest Filipino fighters of all time.
The activities are just among those in store during the gala night to be attended by boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao, who will be honored with the Special Award of Distinction along with Donaire.
“Napakagandang tingnan yung event when you see all champion boxers in one venue na magkakasama,” said event organizer Liza Elorde in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“It’s not a joke going about a big event such as this one. But the Elordes are thinking that this is one way of giving tribute kay daddy and mommy, and para magkaroon ng example o mapukaw ang mga kabataan na maging world champion at sumunod sa yapak ni daddy. We would like to perpetuate the legacy left by our father in the world of boxing,” added Liza, wife of promoter Johnny Elorde, son of the elder Elorde, who reigned as world featherweight champion from 1960-67.
The Elordes were joined in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) by boxers Albert Francisco and Giemel and Arvin Magramo, who will all see action in the Boxing Kontra Droga fight card that will precede the awards proper.
During the program, the Elorde matriarch will lead those to be honored posthumously along with former Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general and Southeast Asian Games medalist Roger Fortaleza, and one-time world title challenger Roberto ‘Toto’ Landero.
Espinosa and Donaire Jr. on the other hand, will have their respective fists casted for future generations to appreciate their greatness.
“There will be a special event within the latter part of the program yung fist casting. We will be doing the fist cast of Luisito Espinosa and Nonito Donaire Jr. So magandang panoorin ito because this will be shown live on stage,” Liza added.
“But you will see the casted fist after a year pa kasi gagawin pa yun.”
The similar casted fist of Pacquiao as well as former champions Donnie Nietes and Rolando Navarrete will be on display at the lobby, along with the memorabilia of the late ‘Flash.’
Also, rare audio visuals of Elorde’s past fights are going to be shown, too, on the widescreen.
