Ex-champs feted in Elorde Awards Night

Two former Filipino world champions — short in size but big in heart — will be honored at the third Gabriel (Flash) Elorde Awards Night in the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati this Tuesday.

Ronnie Magramo and Manny Melchor were unlikely heroes who defied the odds to win world titles in the 105-pound division. They are this year’s additions to the annual honor roll of past world titleholders.

In the first Elorde Awards Night three years ago, the ex-world champions who were cited were Rolando Navarrete, Rene Barrientos, Bernabe Villacampo, Pedro Adigue and Dodie Boy Peñalosa. Last year, the honorees were Luisito Espinosa, Erbito Salavarria, and Eric Chavez.

Magramo, 30, was known as the "Toy Bulldog" — small but terrible. Barely five-foot-tall, he fought like a tank with no reverse gear. The San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, slugger was a menacing plodder. There wasn’t an opponent he feared.

Magramo’s late uncle Ric was a former Philippine flyweight champion. His brothers Melvin and Ric were once highly-rated contenders. Boxing was clearly in the Magramos’ blood.

Magramo turned pro in 1989 and raced to a 14-2 record, with 10 knockouts, before flying to Bangkok to face Pichit Sithbangprachan, a future world titlist, in 1992. Magramo lost to Pichit on an eighth round technical knockout. Two weeks later, he was back in the ring to battle Edito (Ala) Villamor for the Philippine minimumweight crown and not fully recovered from the wounds of his previous outing, was stopped in the eighth.

Despite the back-to-back losses, Magramo was determined to storm back with a vengeance. He strung up four straight wins, including a fourth round disposal of now International Boxing Organization (IBO) champion Noel Tunacao, to earn a crack at the World Boxing Association (WBA) title held by Chana Porpaoin. Lady Luck continued to frown on Magramo as he lost a close 12-round decision to Porpaoin in Thailand in 1993.

A crowd pleaser, Magramo got another invitation to fight in Thailand in 1994, this time against International Boxing Federation (IBF) ruler Ratanapol Sor Vorapin. Once more, Magramo was frustrated in his bid for a world title–he lost to Ratanapol on points.

In July 1994, Magramo was back in Thailand to face Wanwin Chareon for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) 105-pound title. It was Magramo’s third attempt to claim a world crown and wary of losing another hometown decision, made sure of the outcome. Magramo knocked out Wanwin to bag the WBF diadem. He went on to repulse challengers Faisol Akbar and Nundeo Sakjaruporn before losing the crown to Fahsang Pongsawang in Bangkok in July 1995. After two months, Magramo fought Fahsang in a rematch in Manila and regained the crown on a 10th round knockout.

On his second reign as WBF champion, Magramo knocked out Hiroyuki Kasuya and Chi Hyung Park in a pair of non-title bouts then took on Fahsang in a rubber match in Bangkok in September 1996. Fahsang scored a disputed 12-round decision to recapture the title.

Magramo rebounded from his second loss to Fahsang and compiled seven straight wins then battled Songkram Porpaoin for the vacant WBA interim minimumweight title in Thailand in January 1999.

Magramo nearly didn’t make it to Thailand as the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) threatened to revoke his license if he proceeded to fight Songkram. GAB doctors found a cataract in Magramo’s left eye during a medical examination and determined he was half-blind. Magramo’s manager Johnny Elorde, however, disputed the GAB’s finding and produced a document signed by prominent ophthalmologist Dr. Alexander Reyes certifying the eye condition had "no absolute contraindication to prizefighting."

Magramo was eventually cleared to fight Songkram and lost on a eighth round technical majority verdict. The bout turned out to be Magramo’s last. The big-hearted southpaw underwent eye surgery then decided to hang up his gloves at the age of 26 with a record of 35-10, including 22 knockouts.

Not gifted with a big punch, Melchor earned a reputation as a durable survivor in the ring. He was an unlikely world champion because early in his career, he was considered a patsy.

Melchor turned pro in 1987 and lost his first three outings. In his debut, Melchor was halted by Roque Villanueva in the third round. It didn’t seem like he was a prospect at the start.

Unfazed, Melchor kept plugging away, never mind the losses that piled up. His record showed only three wins in 13 fights before he suddenly broke out to post five straight victories. That led to Melchor’s first trip overseas – he flew to Tokyo only to lose to Puma Toguchi on a seventh round stoppage in April 1989.

Melchor never chose his opponents–the tougher, the better. He went to Cebu City to face Jonathan Peñalosa and was halted in the second round. Then he lost a decision to Jaime Aliguin. But Melchor was more determined than ever to bounce back. He did. He picked up five straight wins, including knockouts over Joel Revilla and Angelo Escober, to gain another trip abroad. This time, he went to Bangkok to battle future world champion Chana Porpaoin. Melchor gave a good account of himself and lost on a split decision.

In July 1990, Melchor went to Sydney to take on dangerous Peter Mitrevski. Surprisingly, he held the rugged Australian to a majority draw. In a rematch two months later, also in Sydney, Melchor scored an upset fifth round knockout. He continued to tour the globe and landed in Seoul but lost a decision to Kwang Sun Kim.

With the late Australian Mick O’Brien in his corner, Melchor ventured to Bangkok again and wrested the IBF minimumweight crown from Phalan Lukmingkwan in September 1992. His reign, however, was short-lived. He lost the title in his first defense to Ratanapol Sor Vorapin three months later.

In December 1993, Melchor was in Las Vegas to challenge the legendary Ricardo Lopez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight title. He almost went the distance and lasted until the 11th round in a courageous effort. Melchor earned Lopez’ respect and was invited to fight Osvaldo Guerrero for the WBC International title in Mexico a year later. Melchor was stopped in the seventh round.

In October 1995, Melchor upset Mexico’s highly-rated Javier Varguez in Tokyo to reestablish himself as a top contender. He settled in Japan to campaign for Masato Sasaki in Kashima, Ibaraki. His contract was sold by Gerry Garcia for a 10 percent share of his purses and the settlement of a P30,000 debt. His previous managers were Bosyong Trinidad and O’Brien. Melchor’s career as Sasaki’s prime fighter had its ups and downs. He defeated now WBC superflyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama but was knocked out by Venezuelan Gilberto (Tico) Gonzalez in 1997.

Melchor escaped from Sasaki’s gym two weeks before a scheduled fight to work for Japanese landowner Indo Akira who offered a salary of $100 a day to till his soil. He said he lived under subhuman conditions fighting and did manual labor for Sasaki for two years. But after four months illegally staying in Japan, Melchor was arrested by immigration authorities and deported in August 1997. The GAB slapped an indefinite suspension on Melchor for reneging on a fight contract in Japan but later reissued his license for humanitarian reasons. Melchor knew only how to fight for a living to provide for his wife Daisy and their four children.

In April 1998, Melchor was back in the ring and lost a technical decision to Andy Tabanas. Then, he drew with Jose Clasida and picked up seven wins in a row, including a decision over Ernesto Rubillar to win the WBC International minimumweight title in 1999.

In February 2001, Melchor flew to Mexico to challenge WBC champion Jose Antonio Aguirre and lost a 12-round decision. He was stopped by Fahlan Sakkririn in Bangkok five months later and found his way back to the US. Last year, Melchor saw action twice – losing an eight-round decision to Bebis Mendoza of Colombia in Miami and bowing to Gabriel Elizondo on a seventh round stoppage in San Antonio.

Melchor, 34, shocked the world when he won the world title in 1992 and proved there is always hope for the underdog. His final record settled at 38-33-6, with six knockouts.