MANILA , 5 April — International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao has led the cast of heroes and lords of the ring who was honored for their exploits last year in the second edition of the Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Boxing Awards at the Hotel Intercontinental.
The 22-year-old Pacquiao, who retained his title via a technical split draw with South American Agapito Sanchez last November, received the coveted Boxer of the Year award, the highest honor accorded by the prestigious Elorde Boxing Awards.
The Elorde Boxing Awards was launched last year and held annually by the family of the late Elorde, one of only two Filipinos enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in whose memory boxing’s greatest accolade is awarded.
Major awards were also given to other reigning international and Philippine champions and outstanding boxing personalities — best trainer, best judge, best referee, best matchmaker — as well as to the best fight and the most popular and exciting fighter of last year.
Also given citations and special awards during the Elorde Banquet of Champions were boxing personalities who have contributed to the development of professional boxing in the Philippines.
The traditional Elorde Boxing Awards Night-Banquet of Champions coincides with the birth anniversary of "Da Flash," the greatest Filipino boxer in the Post-War era.
Elorde captured the world junior lightweight crown over Harold Gomes in 1960, and successfully defended his title 10 times in an eight-year span.
Since the Hall of Fame was established in 1990, only four Asians have been enshrined among 226 honorees.
Aside from Elorde, the others are Khaosai Galaxy and Fighting Harada in the modern division and Pancho Villa in the old-timer category. Villa, also a Filipino, is the first-ever Asian world titlist.
Elorde was the first Asian to be inducted — in 1993. Villa came next in 1994, Harada in 1995 and Galaxy in 1999.
Harada, a Japanese buzz saw, was the first fighter to claim both the world flyweight and bantamweight titles.
Galaxy held the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior bantamweight title for seven years and had 19 successful defenses before retiring in 1991.
Pacquiao has yet to sign a contract for the next defense of his title, leaving him inactive for the last four months.
Visibily getting impatient and aching to return to the ring, Pacquiao told business manager Rod Nazario: "I am willing to fight anybody."
Nazario believes a May bout is just perfect for his ward, whose eye wound is now almost healed.
"I think the date would be fine, because by that time Pacquiao’s wound will be fully healed," said Nazario.
Nazario said Pacquiao needs to fight in May because "if he doesn’t, he will already be inactive for six months by that time."
"I don’t want that to happen that’s why I might promote in May if a fight in the US doesn’t happen," said Nazario.
Of course, Nazario would still have to consult with Muhammad before embarking on a fight on local shores.
Murad Muhammad, who is also helping Nazario manage the career of Pacquiao, is currently preoccupied with American Johnny Tapia, who fights two-time Luisito Espinosa victim Manuel Medina of Mexico on April 27 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
"But Manny is still on Muhammad’s radar screen, no doubt about it," added Nazario.
Pacquiao’s next title bout has been put on hold since last month because of an eye problem and an apparent lack of training time.
Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s business manager, said he would not take the risk of letting his ward stake his crown, not even go for a third straight US appearance.
After learning that the cut in his right eye suffered by the gutsy southpaw has not healed completely yet, Nazario promptly barred Pacquiao’s ring return.
"I have notified the States about my decision to shelve Pacquiao’s fight there next month. It’s simply not worth the risk," he said.
Pacquiao sustained a severe cut when he rumbled with New York-based Agapito "El Ciclon" Sanchez in November last year in San Francisco. Aside from the cut, Pacquiao was hit below the belt, laced and elbowed by the rowdy Latino.
Originally, Pacquiao was scheduled to see action on the undercard of a March 9 show in at the AJ Palumbo Center inside the sprawling Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh featuring the IBF lightweight title defense of Paul Spadafora against Angel Manfredy.
"It would be too risky, that’s why I have decided that he won’t allow him to see action in that card," said Nazario.
Pacquiao isn’t even going to London, according to Nazario.
He said the March 30 non-title fight against Michael Brodie has been canceled.
Brodie agreed to fight a less dangerous opponent, Juan Carlos Ramirez who lost a decision to Luisito Espinosa in 1998.
Obviously, the Englishman would not risk losing to Pacquiao in front of his loyal fans.
When Brodie backed out, Murad offered Pacquiao a slot in March 9 card in Pittsburgh. Murad proposed a title bout against Mexican Oscar Larios.
But Nazario, not taking chances, thumbed down the offer.
Nazario said he would welcome an April date for Pacquiao as an alternative. He’s confident Pacquiao would be ready to fight again in the middle of April.
HBO has also lined up an April 20 show to be headlined by Floyd Mayweather’s shot at the World Boxing Council lightweight crown of Mexican Jose Luis Castillo.
Probable venues are New York’s Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas’s MGM Grand.
"We don’t know if the wound underneath his right eyebrow is already OK although we have seen that it looks all right," said Nazario. "But, we don’t know if deep inside, it is still fresh. Only a doctor will be able to tell if the wound has healed."
Pacquiao is regularly coming to Manila from General Santos City — his hometown — to have his injury examined by renowned eye doctor Arnold Salud. Salud is the son of noted lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud, who is associated with Nazario and his circle of friends.
Pacquiao was being groomed to battle Mexican hotshots Oscar Larios or Israel Vazquez in what could have been his third straight US appearance.
In the event Pacquiao fails to secure a fight in America in April, Nazario said he would like to stage a big fight in Manila or Antipolo sometime in the last week of April.
Nazario is thinking it over whether it is worth the risk to send Pacquiao into the ring next month.
"But we will decide on this matter as soon as we conclude a trip to a surgeon," added Nazario, who is expected to consult with trusted allies Lito Mondejar and Moy Lainez.
Lainez and Mondejar expressed delight over the prospects of seeing Pacquiao strut his stuff for the third straight time on US soil, but both were quick to point out the dangers of pushing Pacquiao to fight this soon.
"If Manny is working out hard in General Santos City, then there’s a chance that he will fight next month. But if he’s still doing light workouts, then I don’t think it’s wise to let him fight," said Lainez.
Since the start of the year, Pacquiao has been jogging and swimming in the sea to hasten the healing of his wound.
He spars thrice a week, but it is limited with blows to the body. He also jogs regularly in the morning to ensure that his weight remains in check. Nazario has earlier arranged for Pacquiao to train under American Freddie Roach. Pacquiao’s Filipino trainer Biboy Fernandez supervises the champion’s preparations in General Santos City.
Nazario said he would convince US promoter Murad Muhammad to allow him to stage even one fight on local shores.
"I might get this Thai guy who claims that Pacquiao is ducking him," said Nazaro.
