Pacquiao, Elordes in same corner for boxing awards gala

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao will be collaborating with the Elorde boxing family for the biggest annual boxing awards on its 24th anniversary on March 25.

Enter the first Pacquiao Elorde Awards Night.

Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion and many-time Elorde Fighter of the Year, expressed his intention to be part of the  Elordes' two decades of efforts in honoring Filipino boxers.

“I am deeply honored to continue the legacy of Flash Elorde, not only in boxing but also for providing hopes and inspirations for upcoming and current Filipino boxers, athletes who continuously fight abroad to bring home glory to the Filipino people,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

“Known for their love and appreciation to Filipino boxers which I also do with the MP Promotions, I think the collaboration with the Elordes are going to be huge in the long run not only with boxers but also with other Filipino athletes,” the former senator added.

Liza Elorde, the wife of Johnny Elorde, the son of the great boxer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, said they are eyeing to give recognition also to other sports starting next year although boxing will always be prioritized.

“It’s about time to collaborate with Pacquiao since he’s the greatest boxer in the new era while dad Gabriel “Flash” Elorde in the old era. So people will always remember not just only their accomplishments and name but also their generosity to the people,” Elorde said.

For this year, she said Pacquiao and the Elordes would still focus on giving awards and citations like the prestigious Boxer of the Year, Fight of the Year, Most Promising Boxer, Best manager, trainer, referee, judge, Special Awards to benefactors, boxing’s most influential people and best amateur fighters, among others, to boxers.

But next year, the Elordes and Pacquiao will also award selected non-boxing athletes who win in high-level competitions, including the Olympics.

“We decided to give recognition next year to the other athletes to inspire more the younger generation of athletes to persevere and give their best for the country,” Elorde explained. “Most younger generations today are inspired by Pacquiao who was inspired then by the great story of Flash Elorde.”

The annual Awards Night — first started in 2000— will be held at the Okada Manila.