Double Great First Edition Of Pacquiao-Elorde Awards

A memorable and magnificent event named after two of the greatest Filipino boxers of all time “Pacquiao-Elorde Awards” was held with great success.

The Pacquiao-Elorde Awards took place on Sunday at Okada Manila in Parañaque City, Philippines. The event combined an eight-bout card for the boxing television show Blow-By-Blow and a sports awards show, honoring not only the best Filipino boxers but also legends and champions of other sporting disciplines.

This event was formerly known as the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards Champions Banquet, an annual Gala named after the great boxer, which recognized and lauded the achievements of past and present Filipino boxers.
This year, the Elorde family decided to partner with another boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao, to expand coverage of the event to include athletes from other sports. So, in addition to the usual awards like Boxer of the Year, Trainer of the Year and Fighter of the Year, among others, Sunday’s event also honored top contemporary Filipino athletes like EJ Obiena, Hidilyn Diaz and Gilas Pilipinas.

The event was also attended by the President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán, who was the Guest of Honor.
Among the boxing personalities were Olympic medalists Eumir Marcial and Nesthy Petecio, along with retired Filipino boxing champions Rolando Navarette, Luisito Espinosa and René Barrientos.

There was also a boxing card. Manny’s MP Promotions put on an attractive eight-fight card that started in the afternoon and ended around dinner time. The main bout produced fireworks, in a clash for the vacant WBC Asian Continental Bantamweight Championship, Peñalosa Boxing Stable’s Noli James Maquilan defeated Omega Boxing Stable’s Benny Canete with a power driving right hand to the liver in the seventh round.