THE GREATNESS OF FLASH ELORDE

Gabriel "Flash" Elorde was born into poverty the Phillipines, the youngest of fifteen children. He dropped out of school in the third grade and worked as a laborer and carpenter until he discovered boxing. 5'5" and with a 68 inch reach he fought as a southpaw. That's just about the same dimensions as Manny Pacquiao. Elorde earned his nickname mostly due to his blazing footspeed. Flash was a dancer in the ring. He could punch, but his signature was his movement and technical mastery. Flash was simply slick. He also had an iron chin. Elorde turned pro as a 16 year old bantamweight. He fought seventeen times in his first twelve months as a pro going 14-2-1 and then he stepped up in a BIG way.

Tanny Campo-The fellow Filipino was the #5 ranked flyweight on the planet. He would go on to become the then highly prestigious Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Flyweight champion and would lose a decision challenging for the undisputed flyweight world championship. At 17 years old Elorde decisions Campo twice in 60 days.

Hiroshi Horiguchi-Elorde now travels to Tokyo and still seventeen defeats the formidable fringe contender and Japanese Bantamweight champion to win the OPBF Bantamweight crown. SD12. Elorde moves to featherweight and begins fighting primarily in Tokyo and the Phillipines for the next few years. He wins more than he loses and he gets wins in rematches over the men he initially lost to. Elorde builds a formidable reputation and a following in Asia. Then in 1955, at the age of 20 comes his breakthrough.

Sandy Saddler-The ATG is the reigning featherweight champion, sports a record of over 140 wins and over a hundred KO's, and he travels to the Far East for two fights in three weeks. The second is an over the weight fight with Elorde in the Phillipines. Flash Elorde surprises the boxing world with a wide decision win over the American punching machine. UD10.

Saddler II-Six months later Elorde gets a shot at the undisputed featherweight title. In a razor close fight in San Fransisco (and available on youtube), the fight is stopped in the 13th round with Elorde ripped open over his eye. TKO13. According to Sports Illustrated Saddler gouged at the cut eye with his laces, butted and hit and held. They deemed it the dirtiest fight in years. Flash's face was an absolute mess by the end of the fight and after this nobody ever asked about the Filipino's courage. While this screamed for a rematch, Saddler's career ended at age 30 only three months later due to a car accident that ruined an eye.
Flash is not able to take advantage of these performances and goes into a bit of boxing purgatory at this point. He fights every month, mostly in Asia, loses occasionally, and can't get a big fight. He twice wins the OPBF lightweight crown (which he'll defend a gazillion times) and remains ranked worldwide as a featherweight. Finally, three years after the Saddler fight he gets another ranked guy.

Ike Chestnut-The #5 ranked feather in the world is another slick boxer. In Honolulu Elorde decisions him. UD10.

Poalo Rosi-The #5 ranked lightweight in the world meets Flash in San Fransisco. Rosi wins a deserved split decision.

Finally in 1960 Flash Elorde gets another title shot. Now he is 25, has a record of 51-17-2 and he gets a shot at the recently formed 130 pound title held by Harold Gomes.

Harold Gomes-Won the crown in the initial battle for it over Paul Jorgenson. He has wins over Ike Chestnut and Lulu Perez. But Gome has a hole in his game. He's just not very steady on his feet. In front of his countrymen, Elorde drops him six times and finally Gomes is counted out and Flash Elorde is a world champion. KO7. Flash Elorde becomes what he would remain for the rest of his days. A national hero.

Gomes II-Elorde travels to The US for the rematch five months later. This execution takes 90 seconds. KO1. Elorde will now begin a seven year run defending his OPBF 135 crown across Asia and the undisputed world 130 crown wherever it takes him.

Terou Kosaka-The #7 ranked lightweight in the world. In another example of Elorde's excellence in rematches he takes back the OPBF 135 crown by split decision.

Auburn Copeland-Ranked #2 the American puts up a spirited fight by Elorde gets the nod. MD15.

Sergio Caprari-Ranked #3 at 126 he moves up for a shot. Big mistake. Elorde drops him three times. TKO1.

Johnny Bizzaro-Ranked #1 he has beaten Harold Gomes and will go on several years later to challenge for the 135 title. Flash dominates him. UD15.

Love Allottey-The Ghanan is ranked #3 and already has a win over Auburn Copeland. He is another pure boxer and he will go on to become Commonwealth Lightweight Champ. He puts up a spirited fight with Elorde losing a close but clear decision. The fight creates enough interest that a rematch is held for the 130 title three months later. Allotey puts on an inspired display of brutally dirty fighting and finally is DQ'd while well behind. DQ11.

Now Elorde attempts to step up and win a second world title.

Carlos Ortiz- The ATG is at his absolute peak when he travels to Manila to offer Elorde a shot at the undisputed lightweight title. Flash puts up a brave effort and Elorde has the Champ in real trouble in the seventh but Ortiz is ahead when he stops Elorde in the 14th round. TKO14.

Terou Kosaka IV-Elorde's longtime nemisis (and by this time close friend) is ranked #7 at 135 and he drops down for a shot at the 130 crown. The fight is held in Tokyo and through 11 rounds the Japanese challenger has a slight lead when Elorde finishes him in the twelfth. TKO12.

Kang-Il Suh-The lanky and rugged Korean is ranked #7 when he tries the Filipino. Fighting for the OPBF 135 crown Kang puts on a determined fight but comes up just short. MD12.

Terou Kosaka V-The Japanese is now ranked #3. Finally, in their fifth fight Elorde proves he is Kosaka's master. Dropping him five times Elorde finally finishes the gallant Kosaka with just a minute left in the fight. KO15.

Kang-Il Suh II-Their last fight drew enough attention that a rematch is held for the world 130 crown. This time Elorde changes tactics and slows the challenger and ultimately wins the fight behind a dominating attack to the body. UD15.

Frankie Navarez-The Puerto Rican is raanked the #5 lightweight in the world. Elorde travels to Madison Square Garden for the fight. In front of a Puerto Rican crowd the two put on an action display of punching and at the end it is almsot too close to call. The Filipino is awarded a split decsion with the referee casting the deciding vote. The crowd did not take it well. MSG disintegrated into the same kind of riot we saw for the Bowe-Golota fight. SD10.

Ismael Laguna-The HOFer is the #1 ranked lightweight challeneger in the world. He has already been and will later go on to become again 135 champion. The Panamanian is yet another slick boxer. But Elorde simply doesn't lose to men like this. In perhaps his finest performance Flash Elorde floors Laguna twice and wins a dominating decision. UD10.

How dominant is Elorde at this point? He has wins over the top three ranked challengers and five of the top ten as well as two of the top five 135 challengers. But at 31 the chain smoking Elorde has over 100 fights behind him and now begins to fade.

Yoshiaki Numata-The 21 year old Japanese challenger takes Elorde's OPBF 135 crown in a razor thin decision in Tokyo. UD12.

Vicente Derado-The Argentine challenger already has wins over champions Arthur Persley and future 135 king Carlos Teo Cruz. On Flash Elorde's last big night he defends the 130 crown for the eight and final time. MD15.

Carlos Ortiz II-Ortiz is still 135 champion and gives Flash another shot. But this is not the spirited and close fight the first one was. Ortiz is simply too strong and dominates the fight before finishing Filipino with a big right hand. KO14.

Yoshiaki Numata II-In his last 130 title defense Flash Elorde almost pulls a rabbit out of his hat when he floors Numata in the third round. But the Japanese survives and wins a majority decision to take the 130 crown. Numata is no joke. He will win that title twice and have four defenses and Like Elorde before him will lose a shot at the 135 crown, in his case to Mando Ramos.

Gabriel Flash Elorde was also one of the good guys. He used his winnings to build a church, a hospital and a sports pavilion that is still in use. His bad habit caught up with him and he died of lung cancer at 49. Undisputed champion for seven years, wins over two HOFers and nineteen ranked fighters? That is one hell of a resume. There are Filipino friends of mine who still maintain Flash Elorde is the greatest Filipino fighter of them all.

Bump. No love for Flash?

nice

Nice job again sir. Why is this not in the Archive?

Soonermark890 wrote:Nice job again sir. Why is this not in the Archive?

Geepers are YOU a pain in the ass! Where's Ninja when I need him?

marbleheadmaui wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Nice job again sir. Why is this not in the Archive?

Geepers are YOU a pain in the ass! Where's Ninja when I need him?

LOL You mean Wolf? I am just doing my job bugging you.

Soonermark890 wrote:

marbleheadmaui wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Nice job again sir. Why is this not in the Archive?

Geepers are YOU a pain in the ass! Where's Ninja when I need him?

LOL You mean Wolf? I am just doing my job bugging you.

Grumble. grumble

Great read Marble.Thank you.

marbleheadmaui wrote:Bump. No love for Flash?

Even if I don't comment, I always appreciate these reads. If I ever get a bunch of free time again I'll start trying to find videos for the fights in question whenever you do a GREATNESS OF...