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Memorable Sports Moments of 2014: A tale of two remarkable champions

The referee raises teh hand of Donnie Nietes after the Filipino fighter successfully defended his WBO light-flyweight crown with a third-round TKO over Sammy Gutierrez on November 30 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

It was a daunting task when we were requested to recall our personal relationships as well as our assessment of two incredible Filipino world boxing champions who strode across the ring like colossus of their era but never lost the essential human dimensions that set them apart from the champions of their time.

To be honest we had a particularly close and emotional relationship with the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, the Hall of Famer who reigned as world super featherweight/junior lightweight champion for seven years and three months because it was how we began our broadcast career in the Philippines, covering the world and Oriental title fights of the poor farmer’s son from the rustic town of Bogo, Cebu as he battled one top contender after another.

Elorde was the youngest in a family of sixteen. His poverty served not as a burden but as a challenge. As a young man he was fascinated by the sport of boxing and often worked out at the churchyard of the San Vicente Parish Church in his hometown. He visited the church after each title fight to give thanks to God, walking on his knees from the door of the church all the way to the altar.

While “Flash” was not a big, strong man, he had innate skill, threw combinations with impeccable timing and was the epitomy of a courageous Filipino whose profound humility shone like a beacon among the heroes of our time.

Elorde won the WBC/WBA world super featherweight/junior lightweight title with a sensational 7th round knockout of American champion Harold Gomes, one of the toughest ring gladiators of his time during the inauguration of the Araneta Coliseum on March 16, 1960 before a wildly cheering crowd estimated by youthful promoter George “Nene” Araneta who is now the owner of the Big Dome, at 36,000.

Elorde dropped Gomes five times en route to winning the title and in a return bout at the famed Cow Palace in San Francisco, Elorde won by a 1st round knockout.

As we wrote, “Flash” Elorde feared no man but was humble before all men. That is why it was truly painful to see him wither and slowly fade away, his body wracked by the inroads of a deadly cancer.

We visited him each morning on the way to work, grabbed a sandwich and drove to see him at lunchtime and then after making sure the news was put to bed without a hitch and played a game of tennis at Maharlike Broadcast System to ease the pressure we were often subjected to, we would visit Elorde in the evening before driving home.

As we watched over him and fervently prayed for a miracle to happen, we could see the futility of the struggle to overcome the dreaded disease.

During our visit on the evening of January 1, 1985, the nurses asked us to stay behind as long as we could because things were looking grim.

Some time after midnight, as we stood by his bedside, Elorde opened his eyes for a fleeting moment, took one glance, smiled gently and then heaved a deep sigh and passed away.

Our heart broke and we couldn’t hold back the tears . It was a moment of overpowering grief because through the years we had developed a true and abiding friendship with a good and decent man whose classy demeanor inside and outside the ring earned the respect of the men he faced – and beat – and who ended up as lifelong friends.

When Elorde lost the title to young Japanese Toshiaki Numata in Tokyo by a majority decision on June 15, 1967 ending a reign of 7 years and 3 months in which he never dodged an opponent and fought his battles over 15 rounds at a time when the two professional boxing organizations that mattered were the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association.

Things have changed since then with title fights now cut down to twelve rounds and several organizations providing an opportunity for boxers, managers and promoters  to effectively pick and choose a path to success.

(Czeasar Dancel/NPPA)
(Czeasar Dancel/NPPA)

This of course in no way diminishes the achievements of Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who at the stroke of midnight on December 30, 2015 will surpass the longtime record of Elorde having reigned as WBO minimum weight and light flyweight champion for one day longer.

It is a singular achievement because while Elorde remained in one weight division Nietes first won the WBO minimum weight title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Thailand’s Pornsawan Porpramook on September 30, 2007 and then moved up to light flyweight and won the title with another twelve round unanimous decision over tough Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales. We covered both fights and were impressed with Nietes’ performance.

Tony Aldeguer, the renowned boxing patron  of the ALA Gym told us that Nietes got his nickname “Ahas” while he was working as a utility boy at the gym where one of his daily chores was to clean the snake pit which had five big pythons. According to Tony, Nietes was bitten several times but once he befriended the snakes he was never bitten again.

(Czeasar Dancel/NPPA)
(Czeasar Dancel/NPPA)

Aldeguer recalls that one day a snake laid eleven eggs but only one survived. Donnie took care of that snake and it was with him for many years. That’s how he got his nickname.

Nietes grew up in a family of boxers. His grandfather, father, uncle and cousin in the municipality of Murcia in Bacolod were the ones who first influenced him.

Donnie was a Grade 4 student when he began to like boxing and started sparring with his classmates in his school in the Barangay Caslayan National School and then moved on to compete in inter-barangay and inter-high school competitions.

Donnie recalls that “outside the ring I was afraid because I was small.” And he was always teased for being  thin.

Nietes stayed with his uncle Jerson Nietes Sr who was his first trainer. He would wake up early morning to train and after school he continued training inside the school grounds.

He had more than 50 amateur fights while in college on a scholarship in industrial technology majoring in electronics he continued his amateur career while a member of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association.

Upon completing his two year course Donnie received a call from his uncle to work in Cebu and decided to apply as a maintenance/utility staff at the ALA Boxing Gym in Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City. He reported early morning for work, brushed the ring canvas, cleaned the gym, took care of the animals and did some gardening.

At invitational fights he installed the ring in the morning and was a boxer at night where he won a number of fights and fought alongside his stablemates such as AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Robert Allanic.

When he asked Tony Aldeguer for permission to become a pro, he was initially turned down because Donnie was too small. But he never gave up and eventually earned a chance to become a pro boxer.

In 2003 at the age of 20, Nietes began his career by winning a six round bout against Walter Suaybaguio in Pitalo, San Fernando. While he was excited over his first bout, Donnie wasn’t satisfied with his performance and worked harder in the gym until he won the Philippine Boxing Federation light flyweight title with a 1st round TKO over Joseph Villasis.

Under coach Edmund Villamor, Nietes remained unbeaten until  he lost a controversial ten round split decision to rugged Indonesian Angky Angkota on September 28, 2004. While he was disappointed with the judges decision he vowed to strive harder and in September 2007 won the WBO minimum weight title.

Just like Elorde who was a deeply religious person and built the Saint Rita Chapel along Sucat road, Paranaque and always thanked God for his blessings. Nietes was the same.

In a soft-spoken voice he eloquently pointed out “There is no one else to trust, except God above.” Nietes sacrificed so much to fulfill his dreams. He enjoyed no holidays, no Christmas, no New Year, no birthday.

In a close fight on March 2, 2013 Nietes retained his light flyweight title with a majority draw over Mexico’s Moises Fuentes. Far from content with the draw Nietes pushed for a rematch and got his chance on  May 10, 2014 when, in a masterful display of skill and punching  power he dropped Fuentes three times in the 9th round to win by a spectacular knockout that even stunned Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera who had expressed confidence in the ability of Fuentes to win the title.

Nietes set the stage for his bid to surpass Elorde’s record when he stoppd Mexican Carlos :”Chapito” Velarde in the 7h round last November 15.

He told us then, Elorde was his “hero and inspiration” and he cared not if he surpassed the legendary Filipino’s record. “All I want” said Donnie “ is to win and remain a champion and bring honor to my country and joy to my countrymen.”

In a tribute that was magnanimous and reflected her graciousness, Laura Elorde, widow of the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde paid tribute to Nietes who was on the  crest of surpassing Elorde’s record, referring to Donnie as “a good and decent Filipino champion.”

Ms. Elorde said “when my late husband Gabriel “Flash” Elorde won the world junior lightweight title, it was a historic occasion that brought endless joy and pride to our country and people which is the way “Bai” (Elorde’s nickname) wanted it to be.

He fought not for personal glory but for the glory of the Philippines and during his reign he fought the best in his weight division.

That his opponents became his close friends – from Harold Gomes to Teruo Kosaka, Shigeki Kaneko and Carlos Ortiz reflects the recognition they gave him in return for the respect Bai gave the sport and the men he faced in the ring with quiet dignity.

Laura Elorde went on, “Bai Elorde was humble in victory, magnanimous in defeat and displayed these same virtues  both in and outside the ring.

Donnie Nietes in many respects is like Elorde – a simple man from humble beginnings  but a true champion who has, by his success, earned the admiration of our people.

She concluded by stating, “to us, the members of the Elorde family, Donnie’s surpassing of Elorde’s record is a tribute to his skill, dedication and hard work. We are indeed proud that Baiu reigned as world champion for seven years and three months and are prouder still that a good and decent Filipino champion rose to take his place among the heroes of our time.”

Touched by the sentiments of Ms. Elorde, Nietes took a flight to Manila along with ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Canete and two other top fighters from the ALA Gym – Milan Melindo and Prince Albert Pagara and paid a courtesy call on Ms. Elorde at her residence along Sucat Road in Paranaque, handing the matriarch of the Elorde clan a beautiful bouquet of flowers while expressing his gratitude for her kind words.
Nietes and the group then visited the tomb of “Flash” Elorde at the Manila Memorial Park and knelt in prayer in homage to Elorde.

Gabriel “Flash” Elorde was truly a hero of our time, someone who richly deserves our remembering because for all of us the passing of the summers hasn’t dimmed the cherished memories of one of the greatest Filipino champions of all-time.

As we remember Elorde, we pay tribute to Donnie Nietes whose humility coupled with his skill and courage as a fighter, remind us so much of Flash Elorde, the man whose record he has surpassed but done so with respect and quiet dignity.