2ND PACQUIAO-ELORDE AWARDS NIGHT: Jerusalem, Taduran are “Boxers of the Year”

Sports

SOME of the country’s biggest names in boxing gathered under one roof and received due recognition during the 2nd Pacquiao-Elorde Awards Night on Thursday night, March 20, in Manila.

The spotlight shone the brightest on Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran, the country’s only reigning world boxing champions.

Jerusalem, the reigning World Boxing Council minimumweight champion, and Taduran, the current International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion, were named “Boxers of the Year.”

Sharing the limelight was Jerusalem’s coach, Michael Domingo, who snatched the “Trainer of the Year” accolade.

Jerusalem’s stablemates at Zip Sanman were also awarded. They were Esneth Domingo (WBC Asian Silver flyweight champion); Jeo Santisima (WBC Asian Continental super featherweight champion), and Alex Santisima (WBF Australasian super bantamweight champion).

Fighters from the Cebu-based ARQ Boxing Stable, Yellow Boxing Gym, and Villamor Boxing Gym and Bohol’s PMI Boxing Stable were also recognized.

ARQ’s awardees were Ian Paul Abne (WBA South minimumweight champion); Berland Robles (WBA South flyweight champion); and Rodel Wenceslao (WBF Australasian welterweight champion).

Awardees for the Villamor Boxing Gym were Reymart Tagacanao (WBA Asia Super flyweight champion) and AJ Paciones (WBA Asia light flyweight champion).

Rhonvex Capuloy, the WBF Australasian super featherweight champion, was the awardee for the Big Yellow Boxing Gym.

For PMI Boxing Stable, the awardees were Virgel Vitor (WBO Oriental super featherweight champion); Gerwin Asilo (WBO Oriental bantamweight champion); Althea Shine Porres (PBF light flyweight champion); and Joseph Sumabong (WBO Asia Pacific Youth minimumweight champion).(CCM)