Elorde named to WBC Ratings Committee

MANILA, Philippines — Juan Miguel Elorde has been appointed to the 20-strong WBC Ratings Committee by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to join Patrick Cusick of Thailand as the only Asians in the powerful body headed by Dean Lohuis.

Elorde, 37, is a former pro who retired in 2022 after compiling a record of 29-3, with 15 KOs. His only losses came overseas, twice in Las Vegas and once in Australia. In 2019, he lost to Mexican Emanuel Navarrete in a bid for the WBO superbantamweight crown at the T-Mobile Arena. Elorde reigned as WBO Asia Pacific superbantamweight champion for four years and posted five successful defenses. He’s the son of Johnny and Liza Elorde and grandson of the late Gabriel (Flash) Elorde.

Sulaiman said Elorde is expected to report on results of Philippine boxing “so that Filipino boxers have the place they deserve in our ratings.” Elorde said the Ratings Committee is convened once a month by zoom. “We rate boxers one to 40 each division kaya matagal ang meeting inaabot ng four to six hours,” he said. “Each boxer dini-discuss kung napalaban sa month, kung nanalo at how was the performance. Nakaka-suggest ako na iangat ang ratings ng Pinoy boxers basta magandang performance.”

Elorde said he’s hoping there will be more boxing promotions in the Philippines with WBC sanctioned regional title fights to land more Filipinos in the ratings. 

“Kung hindi sanctioned fights, dapat quality fights at maganda ang resulta kasi sa Ratings Committee, pinaguusapan ang mga fights sa Philippines at kung mayroon magagaling na pwedeng ilagay sa ratings at tinatanong ako. Sana makatulong ako sa mga Pinoy boxers na makapasok sa ratings at balang araw, magkaroon uli ng maraming Filipino world champions,” said Elorde.