highland boxers honored elorde awards

Sunstar Baguio.com

By Roderick Osis

BAGUIO. 39 boxing champions including seven from the Highland Boxing Gym were honored during the 18th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Grand Ballroom of the Okada Hotel Manila.(Contributed photo)

SEVEN title holders from the Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad were feted during the 18th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Grand Ballroom of the Okada Hotel Manila. Honored during the gathering were Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) lightflyweight champion Merlito Sabillo, ABF flyweight champion Jeroril Borres, newly crowned OPBF flyweight champion Jayr Raquinel and ABF super flyweight champion Ryan Lumacad. Other fighters from Highland Boxing gym that were honored include OPBF Silver featherweight champion Jilbert Gomera, OPBF Super featherweight champion Carlo Magali and Philippine welterweight champion Dennis Padua. Highland Boxing Gym manager Brico Santig said the award is a testament to the hardwork and perseverance of his boxers and his trainors who has worked double time to improve their craft. IBF world superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, IBF world light flyweight titleholder Milan Melindo and WBO world bantamweight titlist Marlon Tapales received boxing’s highest accolade in the annual rites coinciding with the 83rd birth anniversary of Elorde, the first Filipino boxer to be inducted into the World and International Hall of Fame. Other highlight of the rites is the casting of the fists of former WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, and WBA world welterweight titleholder Bernabe Villacampo Aside from the seven Highland boxers, 32 international and regional champions and nine Philippine boxing kings went on stage to receive major awards to be presented by Laura Elorde, wife of the boxing legend who was world junior lightweight champion from 1960-67 and in whose memory the awards are conferred.