Pacquiao puts world champs on pedestal

The country’s two world boxing champions — minimumweights Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran — both received expert pointers and words of encouragement from boxing’s premier puncher on a night Filipino boxers glittered like gold.

Manny Pacquiao showered Jerusalem and Taduran with praises for bringing honor and glory to the country by way of their title-winning exploits.

Jerusalem, holder of the World Boxing Council minimumweight jewels, is slated to face Yudai Shigeoka in a rematch on 30 March in Tokomane.

Taduran, the International Boxing Federation 105-pound supremo, meets Yudai’s brother Ginjiro in another rematch on 24 May in Osaka.

The occasion was the Pacquiao-Elorde Awards at Okada Manila on Thursday night where champions of yesteryears and other illustrious members of the Philippine boxing community took part in.

Jerusalem, who won two fights last year, and Taduran, were both recipients of the Boxers of the Year plum from the organizing committee led by Liza Elorde, daughter-in-law of the late, great Hall of Famer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

Among those who graced the event were top world contenders such as Charly Suarez and Vic Saludar, former world champions Luisito Espinosa, Rolando Navarrete and Rene Barrientos as well as retired referee Bruce McTavish as well as fighters who once stood out during respective peaks.