With Jingky Pacquiao
With Manny Pacquiao
Boxing great Manny Pacquiao lead the honorees as the “Quintessential Athlete” for his achievements in and outside the ring, while 2010 world champions Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes and Ana Julaton were feted in the rites held in memory of seven-year junior lightweight champion and Hall of Famer Flash Elorde.
Pacquiao also served as guest of honor and speaker and headed the Banquet of Champions which included 40 world and international champions – five each in the strawweight, lightflyweight, flyweight, superflyweight, bantamweight and superbantamweight, two each in the featherweight, superfeatherweight, lightweight and superlightweight, and 15 Filipino title holders.
Retired world champions led by Rene Barrientos, Erbito Salavaria and Rolando Navarette also joined the event.
Julaton, the WBO super bantamweight queen, and WIBA minimumweight champion Gretchen Abaniel are the women honorees.
The Johnny Elorde Management International and the Flash Elorde Foundation, led by Flash Elorde’s wife Laura, also gave recognition to amateur boxers Alice Kate Aparri, the 2010 World Championship bronze medalist, and Rey Saludar, the 2010 Asian Games gold medalist.
WBA international and interim superflyweight champion Drian Francisco will be feted as the most promising boxer while the WBO youth superfeatherweight bout between Alan Tanada and Jose Ocampo in Cavite were cited as best fight of 2010.
International referee Carlos Padilla Jr. received a special citation – the Lope “Papa” Sarreal Milestone Achievement Award – for his accomplishments as third man in the ring.
Spicing up the event was the bout between Elorde’s grandson Juan Martin “Bai” Elorde and Thai Chainarong O.Wongsri in one of three preliminary matches.
Capping the fight card is the unification bout between WBC international champion Jonathan Taconing and WBC silver belt holder Lookdiew Tor Buamad of Thailand.
Laura Elorde delivered the welcome remarks while Games and Amusements Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon gave the opening remarks.
The masters of ceremonies were Liza Elorde and Ted Lerner.