Monday, March 10, 2008 Nietes, Peñalosa get Elorde Awards By Henry C. Villalva
TWO Negrense pro boxers who are currently holders of world championships will be honored along with three others as Boxer of the Year awardees in the 8th Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Awards Night Banquet of Champions set March 25 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
The two Negros boxers are Donnie Nietes of Murcia, Negros Occidental and Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, who won the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight championship last Sept. 30, 2007, defeating Thai opponent Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym via unanimous decision at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City; and, San Carlos City native Gerry Pe¤alosa who won the world bantamweight crown by dethroning Mexican Jhonny Gonzales via a seventh round knockout in August last year at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
This is the first time the Elorde best boxer plum will be given to more than one boxer, and both Negrense were cited by the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) Bacolod during its 2007 SCOOP Awards for outstanding Negros athletes last December 29, 2007.
Also sharing the Elorde awards are IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, IBF minimumweight titlist Florante Condes, and peoples champion Manny Pacquiao.
Nietes, who is currently undergoing preparations for his forthcoming first title defense in Dubai told SunStar Bacolod in a text message he is very happy with the Elorde award. "This is a prestigioys boxing award and I'm thankful for it- I'll always treasure it," the soft-spoken former Negros Amateur Boxing Association (NABA) campaigner said.
