Two great champions – Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, world champion for seven years in the 60s, and Manny Pacquiao, winner of seven world titles – celebrate milestones when the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions is held on March 25 at the Harbour Tent of the Sofitel Hotel.

Elorde will be remembered for his reign as junior lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967.

He won the title via a seventh round knockout of Harold Gomes on March 16, 1960 during the inaugural opening of the Araneta Coliseum. From there he retained the title 10 times before ceding it to Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo in 1967.

This year also marks the 25th death anniversary and 75th birth anniversary of Da Flash, 50 years after he wrested his first world title. Pacquiao, considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time, has won seven titles in seven weight divisions, was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame and, like Elorde, was honored in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.