Loreto, Petalcorin Are Elorde Boxers Of The Year

World boxing champions Rey “Hitman” Loreto and Randy “Razor” Petalcorin are both this year’s Boxer of the Year awardees in the annual 16th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards “Banquet of Champions” slated on March 29 at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

Loreto is the reigning IBO world light flyweight champion while Petalcorin is currently the WBA world interim light flyweight champion.

Both are also natives of Davao City.

Loreto, however, is now under the Brico Santig Stable based in Baguio City while Petalcorin is with the Sanman Promotions in General Santos City.

Loreto recently captured the vacant WBA International minimum weight title by a first round knockout on Fapikat Twin Gym last January 22 at the Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

“Loreto is a world class fighter and we’re hoping this year he can fight in the WBA at WBC because he is number 2 at number 3, respectively in world rankings,” said Loreto’s manager Brico Santig.

Loreto, who was also last year’s Boxer of the Year awardee, however, has not yet received his purse from the promoter in South Africa since last March 22, 2015.Petalcorin, on the other hand, previously retained his crown in his first title-defense via a first round technical knockout over Yi Ming Ma last April 24 at the Capital Gym in Beijing, China.

“I’m happy to get this award and I’m looking forward to get more world titles in the future,” said Petalcorin (23W-1L-1D-18KOs).

The 25-year-old southpaw from Davao City won the world title also by a TKO against Walter Tello last August 26, 2014 at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.

“Sanman Promotions is grateful to have Randy Petalcorin being awarded as Boxer of the Year. Randy Petalcorin is just starting and he will have a busy 2016,” said promoter-manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of the Sanman Promotions.

Petalcorin is currently busy preparing for his upcoming fight that will be announce very soon.

Four other boxers from Sanman will also receive citations for winning their respective titles.

They are WBC Asia featherweight champion John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde, IBO Intercontinental lightweight champion Raymond “Tornado” Tabugon, WBF International flyweight champion Jether “The General” Oliva and WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar Metuda.

Moralde, 22, defended his title via a unanimous decision against Anthony Sabalde last February 13 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Gensan to remain undefeated with 15 straight wins and no loss or draw.

Tabugon (18W-4L-1D-8KOs) recently captured another new title – the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super flyweight crown – via a 5th round technical knockout against stubborn Renante Suacasa of Koronadal last March 8 in T’boli, South Cotabato.

The 22-year-old Metuda also kept his unblemished record of 10 straight wins with five knockouts in T’boli by scoring a 2nd round knockout on Joel Hecotibo.

Oliva (23W-5L-2D-11KOs) won the vacant WBF Asia Pacific flyweight crown by a UD on Jemmy Gobel in Glan. Oliva, however, lost by a hometown decision to Zolani Tete in their title-fight for the vacant WBO Africa super flyweight crown last Dec. 18 in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Sanman Promotions, which has more than 20 boxers, plans to have seven to eight boxing shows this year including its inaugural staging in Manila.

Sanman’s opening salvo this year was the highly successful Brawl at the Mall: Glory held Feb. 13 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Gensan. It was followed by the T’boli Thunder last March 8.

“I’m happy to get this award and I’m looking forward to get more world titles in the future,” said Petalcorin.

Four other boxers from Sanman will also receive citations for winning their respective titles. They are WBC Asia featherweight champion John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde, IBO Intercontinental lightweight champion Raymond “Tornado” Tabugon, WBF International flyweight champion Jether Oliva and WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar Metuda.

“Sanman Promotions is grateful to have Randy Petalcorin being awarded as Boxer of the Year.

Randy Petalcorin is just starting and he will have a busy 2016,” said promoter-manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of the Sanman Promotions.

The traditional Elorde Boxing Awards Night-Banquet of Champions is giving citations and special awards to boxing personalities who have contributed to the development of professional boxing in the Philippines.

The annual awards will also give awards to Best Referee, Fight of the year and Prospect of the Year award.

The program, which is presented by the Jhonny Elorde International Promotion, will start with boxing bouts featuring two grandsons of legendary Flash Elorde.

Juan Martin “Bai” (19-1-1,8) will battle against Indonesian Musa Letding (10-4-4,6) for the vacant WBO Oriental Jr. lightweight title while the younger brother “The Boss” Juan Miguel Elorde (20-1,11) will defend his WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight title against Waldo Sabu (7-3,2) also of Indonesia.

WBC no. 1 ranked and OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) light flyweight champion Jonathan Taconing (22-2-1,18KOs) will take on highly experience Indonesian Heri Amol (37-28-5,15) in a 10 round non-title bout and newly crowned WBC International flyweight champion Giemel Magramo (15-0,12) will face John Bajawa (11-12,7) also from Indonesia.

The main highlight of the ceremony is the “Casting of the Fist” which will honor seven of the greatest Filipino boxers of all time.

They are longest Filipino boxing world champion and the reigning WBO and The Ring Magazine light flyweight titlist Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, 5 Division World champion, WBO world Jr. bantamweight champion Nonito “The Flash” Donaire, retired 2 division world champion Gerry Penalosa, retired former WBC world super featherweight champion Rolando “Bad Boy from Dadiangas” Navarette, retired former WBC super featherweight champion Rene Barrientos, retired former WBC flyweight champion Erbito Salavarria and retired ex-WBF minimum weight titlist Ronnie Magramo. (PNA) LAP/LCM/LITO DELOS REYES/LDP/EDS