SANMAN'S MANANGQUIL IS BEST PROMOTER IN 17TH ELORDE AWARDS

*PROMOTER OF THE YEAR. Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil (standing, middle) with co-promoter Dexter Tan (right) and trainer Rodel Mayol. Seated is WBC Intercontinental lightweight champion Romero Duno.*

YOUTHFUL Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil of Sanman Promotions will be awarded as the “Best Promoter” in the prestigious 17^th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Tent of the Manila Hotel.

The 24-year old Manangquil, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the General Santos City-based Sanman Promotions, is the youngest recipient of the annual award.

Manangquil was also the world’s youngest boxing promoter and manager at the age of 15 in 2007.

“I was encouraged by my Kuya JR (John Ray) in boxing. In fact, I also trained as a boxer because of him,” said Manangquil, who first formed the JM Promotions in Gensan in 2007

He then later organized the Sanman Promotions together with his brother JR and their good friend and fellow businessman Dexter “Wang Yu” Tan of San Andres Fishing Company in 2009.

Sanman made nine promotions last year mostly in Gensan including its inaugural event in Metro Manila held at the Makati Square Boxing Arena.

Sanman had a total of seven championship fights – International Boxing Federation (one), World Boxing Council (two), World Boxing Federation (three) and Philippine titles (two).

“I am very thankful for the award. I dedicate this to all Sanman members Dexter Tan, my brother John Ray Manangquil and the staff,” said Manangquil, who was recently elected as the public relations officer of the newly-formed Philippine

Six Sanman boxers will also be cited in this year’s Elorde Awards Night. They are WBA Interim World and IBF Pan Pacific light flyweight champion Randy “Razor” Petalcorin, WBC Asia super bantamweight champion Rey “Gensan Assasin” Gaballo, WBC Asia super featherweight champion Romero “Ruthless” Duno, WBF International featherweight champion John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde, WBF International bantamweight “Magic” Mike Plania and WBO Asia Pacific Youth flyweight champion Jake Bornea.

The annual boxing award is held in celebration of the 82^nd birthday of the late Flash Elorde.

Also to be feted are Hall of Famers Manny “Pacman Pacquiao and Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who will both received the Award of Distinction.

Pacquiao, the current WBO World welterweight champion, and Nietes, the WBO world lightweight champion, will be honored for their continuing feat as world champions even after they have already been enshrined into the Elorde Hall of Fame.

The Award of Distinction, one of the major awards of the Elorde Awards Night, is conferred to a Filipino boxer who have already been enshrined to the Elorde Hall of Fame and became world champion for seven consecutive years, matching the feat of Da Flash who was, in addition, enshrined separately into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame as the undefeated world junior lightweight champion for seven consecutive years, from 1960 to 67.

IBF World super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas of Davao City, IBF World flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero and WBO World bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales will be sharing the main award as the Boxer of the Year.

The other major highlight of the Elorde Awards, to be presented by the Elorde family led by Da Flash’s wife Laura, is the casting of the fists, a ceremonial casting of the fists of current and former Filipino world champions still alive. They will form part of a rich, extensive collection of memorabilia of Filipino greats.

Pacquiao will also lead the casting of the fists, a ceremonial casting of the fists of current and former Filipino world champions still alive.

The cast also includes former WBO bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa, former WBC lightweight champion Rolando Pascua, former IBF world super flyweight titleholder Tacy Macalos and former IBF world flyweight champion Dodie Boy Penalosa.

“They will form part of a rich, extensive collection of memorabilia of Filipina greats,” said organizer Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr.

Also to be honoured as 11 Philippine champions of Class of 2016 as well as regional and international champions from the major boxing organizations in 11 divisions of the same year.

The Best Fight of the Year was the bout of Kenny Demecillo and Rambo Lagos while the other special awards will go to lawyer Danrex Tapdasan (Best Referee), Jhun Agrabio (Best Trainer) and WBO Inter-Continental and NABF super flyweight champion Aston “Mighty’ Palicte (Most Promising Boxer).