By Rey Danseco
REIGNING WBC light flyweight champion Brian Viloria beat Manny Pacquiao as the lead of major honorees in this year’s Sixth Gabriel "Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards Night-Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Dusit Nikko Hotel in Manila, Philippines.
The unbeaten 25-year old Filipino champion will receive the Flash Elorde Golden Belt in recognition of giving honor to the Philippines and it's people after winning a world title in a live HBO-televised program on Sept. 10, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Pacquiao on the other hand may be awarded with a Flash Elorde Golden Ring, according to Johnny Elorde, second son of Flash Elorde whose memory the Annual Awards is held annually during his birthday.
“Brian is the only legitimate world champion in the year, so he will lead the major awardees in Banquet of champions,” said Elorde.
Viloria (19-0, 12 KOs) greeted in Filipino and waved the Philippine flag instead of the United States colors that he donned in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney after winning the WBC diadem. Viloria has been keen on representing the Philippines in the Olympics had the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) sent him the invitation to represent the country before he participated in USA Olympic trials.
Viloria stopped erstwhile champion Eric Ortiz with a big right hand in the first round to become the only second Filipino title holder of the the WBC 108-lb throne next to Rolando Pascua in 1990-1991. He is the fourth Filipino world light flyweight king after former IBF 108-lb titlist Dodie Boy Penalosa in 1983-1985 and Tacy Macalos in 1988-1989.
Other major honorees of the Flash Elorde Awards are Filipino boxers who won or retained their world and international crowns during the year 2005. Top boxing personalities who contributed to the development of the sport in the year will also receive recognitions.
Elorde was the world’s longest-reigning junior lightweight champion (1960-67) and one of only two Filipinos after Pancho Villa to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
Elorde held the WBC title from March 20, 1960 until June 15, 1967 and took the WBA belt from February 16, 1963 until June 15, 1967 to become the longest ever reigning junior lightweight king at 7 years and three months.
The Elordes, headed by the Flash’s wife Laura Sarreal-Elorde, also gives special citations to the Philippine champions of 2005, best promoter, manager, trainer, referee, judge, most promising boxer, best fight of the year as well as patrons and special boxing friends.
The young Elorde said, they are in the process of choosing one of Elorde’s opponents as special guest and to received Elorde Memorial Award.
"Through the Elorde Memorial Awards, we hope to inspire other boxers to work even harder to bring honor and glory to our country," said Elorde
