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| Boxing promoters Johnny and Liza Elorde and boxers Giemel and Arvin Magramo and Albert Francisco pose together to promote the returning Elorde Awards. Ivan Saldajeno |
MANILA—Jerwin Ancajas, Johnriel Casimero, and Mark Magsayo are the biggest names among the seven boxers that will be named Boxers of the Year in the return of the Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Boxing Awards on Saturday night at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom in Parañaque.
Elorde's son Johnny and wife Liza made the announcement when they promoted the said event during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
With the Elorde Awards happening again for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the event for three editions, a total of seven pugs will be named Boxers of the Year representing the years 2019-2022 including Ancajas, Casimero, and Magsayo, three of today's Filipino boxing superstars.
Former world champions Ancajas, Casimero, Pedro Taduran, and Vic Saludar will finally get their flowers after their supposed coronation in 2020 was hit by the pandemic-related lockdown.
Rene Cuarto, who eventually took the IBF mini-flyweight title away from Taduran will represent the year 2020, while Magsayo and Dave Apolinario, the only active world champ among the awardees, will receive the award for 2022.
On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire will be formally inducted to the Elorde Awards Hall of Fame also on Saturday night.
Like Ancajas, Casimero, Taduran, and Saludar, Pacquiao and Donaire were also supposed to get their honors in 2020 only for the said edition to be canceled due to the pandemic.
According to Liza Elorde, Pacquiao will also be given a special award for continuing to advocate boxing even if he has long been retired already.
Among the other awards to be presented are the Promoter of the Year and Fight of the Year citations as well as special awards in the professional and even the Olympic-style boxing ranks.
As an appetizer to the awards night, seven bouts are scheduled to take place as well at Okada Manila.
In the main event, Giemel Magramo battles Sanchai Yotboon for the WBO global flyweight title, a secondary belt to the world championship in the 112-pound division.
Magramo's brother Arvin challenges fellow Filipino Joel Lino for the WBO oriental light flyweight title, while Albert Francisco and Yang Chengcheng collide for the WBO oriental youth flyweight championship in two of the other scheduled clashes.
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