Monday, August 13, 2007

MAKING A FATHER PROUD


Bai Elorde Scores KO Win,
Birthday Gift To Papa Johnny

By Alex P. Vidal

Bai Elorde poses with referee and author after the fight…

International promoter Johnny Elorde celebrated his birthday on August 1 as a proud father. This was after his son, Bai Elorde, fulfilled a promise to his father. Bai scored a scintillating knockout victory which he offered as birthday gift to a father who’s into fight business.
Bai Elorde, popularly known as "the grandson of the late (Gabriel) Flash Elorde", blasted into smithereens Rommel Discalsote in three rounds of a 4-round non-title tiff last week at the Flash Grand Ballroom of Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque City promoted by his father. Philboxing reported earlier that Elorde dominated Discalsote in scoring the stoppage win. It was Bai Elorde’s third win, and the most impressive, in as many outings as a professional fighter after a brief but sterling career in the amateur.
Before pummeling Discalsote into submission, Elorde connected hard punches that hurt his foe in the second stanza.
Discalsote was counted out by the referee after he fell from a combination of hard punches, the last of which, according to Philboxing, was a straight right to his face.
In his last fight in March this year where he scored a lopsided decision also in the same ring, Bai Elorde, was mobbed like a celebrity.
"Iba ang batang ‘to," sighed Bai’s equally proud uncle, Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde, Jr. who watched with awe in the ringside. "Tutularan sia ng ibang kabataan dahil siya lang ang boksingerong college gradute." (What is extraordinary about Bai is he is the only boxer who is a college graduate).
Bebot Elorde, also an international promoter and manager, said he will not be surprised if Bai Elorde will someday follow the footsteps of his "great" grandfather who reigned as world junior lightweight ruler unmolested for seven years.


Pacquiao Files P30-M Libel Case


In another boxing front, veteran sportswriter Nick Giongco has refused to issue any statement regarding the reported P30-million libel case filed against him by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
"I haven’t received the final complaint," the 37-year-old Giongco who writes for the Manila Bulletin and Tempo said in a text message when reached by this writer for comment. "(If I will talk about the case) I might preempt the judge who will eventually hear the case."
Sources said, Giongco is unfazed as he wrote the article "on good faith and without any malice whatsoever."
"What will Mr. Giongco get if he will maliciously slander a national icon who is also his friend for a long time?" commented a fellow sportswriter.
Inquirer News Service reported last July 31 that Pacquiao filed a P30-million libel case against the well-traveled Giongco.
The case, filed in Pacquiao’s hometown in General Santos City by lawyer Franklin Gacal, reportedly stemmed from an article written by Giongco in the news-paper’s July 25 issue.
The news service said, one of the items that caught the ire of the World Boxing Council international super-featherweight titlist was the phrase, "he is reported to be a compulsive gambler and is known to bet hundreds of thousands in casinos, cockfighting and billiards?"
The article came out after it was reported that Pacquiao cancelled his trip to the United States where he was supposed to appear in a press conference to promote his Oct. 6 rematch with former world champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico.
The 28-year-old multi-millionaire instead made an unannounced trip to Cebu and visited his business partner Rex "Wakee" Salud.
Some newspapers described Pacquiao’s Cebu trip as "a spur of the moment" reportedly after a little misunderstanding with his wife Jinky. /MP

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