Roach to receive Elorde sports award; Ermita guest speaker

Freddie Roach, trainer of People’s Champion Manny Pacquiao, will receive a special award as Pacquiao’s trainer during the Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Memorial Awards tomorrow at the Dusit Nikko Hotel in Makati.

Pacquiao himself will receive the Boxer of the Year award, leading an exclusive field of Filipino world, international and Philippine champions in rites held in memory of Flash Elorde, the unbeaten world junior lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967.

Also arriving is Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel who will join Pacquiao as special guest of the Elorde Sports Foundation and Johnny Elorde International Management which are sponsoring the Elorde Banquet of Champions, now on its sixth year.

Brian Viloria will receive the Elorde Golden Belt Award as World Boxing Council flyweight champion. He will be joined by his manager Gary Gittlesohn.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, himself a former boxer, will be the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremonies..