Casimero, Ancajas Elorde boxers of year
Two Filipino world champions – International Boxing Federation world flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero and IBF world superflyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas – will step on stage as the Boxers of the Year in the prestigious 17th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Manila Hotel.
Casimero stopped Thai world champion Amnat Ruenroeng in May 2016, regaining the IBF flyweight crown he lost to the same opponent in 2015. He retained the title with a TKO win over Briton Charlie Edwards in London three months later, in September.
He ended the year with a ring record of 23-3-0 with 15 knockouts.
Ancajas, 25, who wrested the IBF superflyweight crown with a unanimous decision over fellow Filipino Paul Apolinario in 2015, retained the title with another unanimous decision over 25-yearold Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo, who was unbeaten in 17 bouts (8 KOs) before his bout with the Filipino.
The two world champions will be conferred the highest honors in Philippine pro boxing in the annual Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards, held in honor of the legendary post-war Filipino great who was undefeated world junior lightweight king from 1960-67.
The awards rites will be presented by the Elorde family, led by Da Flash’s wife Laura, in the formal rites where former champions will be enshrined to immortality through the “Casting of the Fists,” a major highlight of the ceremonies.
Leading the casting are current WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, former WBO bantamweight king Gerry Peñalosa, former WBC light flyweight champion Rolando Pascua and IBF world superflyweight champion Tacy Macalos.
“Through the casting of the fists, world champions in history will be enshrined forever in the pantheon of boxing greats,” said Laura Elorde. “These warriors, whose monuments stand upon a hundred battlefields of boxing, will have a special place in the home of Flash Elorde long after their time.”
The Class of 2016 includes 37 other world and international champions and 11 Philippine titleholders.
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