A TRIPLE-BOXING championship will be featured at the return of the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards Banquet of Champions on Saturday during its 23rd anniversary celebration at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.
Former world title challenger Giemel (26-3 win-loss record with 21 knockouts) and younger brother Arvin Magramo (16-1-1 with 11 knockouts) will clash with separate foes for the World Boxing Organization regional titles, starting 3 p.m. prior to the awards night.
The 28-year-old Giemel will face Thailand’s Sanchai Yotboon for the WBO global flyweight belt, while the 26-year-old Arvin will meet Joel Lino for the WBO oriental lightweight title.
Up-and-coming 23-year-old prospect Albert Francisco collides with Chinese Chengcheng Yang for the WBO oriental youth flyweight championship in the third championship treat to the fans.
“It’s going to be a memorable night, but first, we have to treat all the awardees and guests with slam-bang action,” the event’s master organizer Liza Elorde, wife of Elorde’s son Johnny, said. “Filipino boxers, fans and supporters deserve to be recognized.”
After three years of absence because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual awards night will honor the country’s best and top-performing boxers from the professional and amateur ranks from 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Eight-division world champion, former Senator Manny Pacquiao and four-weight division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. will be cited with the Special Award of Distinction for continuously reaping world championships, even after being elevated to the Elorde Hall of Fame several years back and winning the Boxer of the Year title for seven consecutive times.
Seven have been chosen as Boxers of the Year, headed by 2019, 2020 and 2021 IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, 2019, 2020 and 2021 WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero, 2019 and 2020 IBF minimum weight titleholder Pedro Taduran, 2021 and 2022 IBF minimum weight champion Rene Mark Cuarto, 2022 WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo, reigning IBO flyweight champion Dave Apolinario and 2019 and 2021 WBO and WBA minimum weight champion Vic Saludar.
The Elorde Awards will also honor amateur fighters, who won medals in the Tokyo Olympics, like Olympic silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, together with 2019 Southeast Asian Games boxing medalists in Manila.
For more information about the event, call Beth Oriendo and Mhay at +639066053524 or +639175118647
