Gabriel Elorde

Gabriel Elorde ( March 25, 1935 in Bogu, Cebu Island; † 2 January 1985), known as a boxer under the name Flash Elorde, was a Filipino boxer.

Career

The defensive southpaw Elorde started in 1951 at the age of 16 his career in his home country. He fought mainly in what was not particularly prestigious super featherweight. In 1955 he won in the Philippines in a non-title fight against American featherweight legend Sandy Saddler on points. He lost the rematch on January 18, 1956 for the world featherweight title in the U.S. just laid back after a crash in the thirteenth round due to a laceration.

It was only on 16 March 1960, he won the world championship in the super featherweight against the American Harold Gomes by KO in round seven. Elorde held the title more than seven years and made it ten successful title defenses, even though he never hit an opponent of the grade of Saddler. In the lightweight (a class later) he was subject at this time two times in world championship fights Carlos Ortiz. He eventually lost the title on June 15, 1967, to the Japanese Yoshiaki Numata. His career ended in 1971.

The chain -smoking Elorde died at the age of only 49 years from lung cancer. He was included as one of only a few Asians in the " International Boxing Hall of Fame". From the " Ring Magazine ", he was ranked as the second best of all time after Pancho Villa Filipinos, Manny Pacquiao had not been considered.