May 4 ------ THE grand matriarch of Philippine boxing passed away on Sunday. Local sports is in a state of mourning anew following the loss of the well-beloved Laura Elorde, widow of Filipino ring great Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde, who died due to a lingering illness. She was 91. Grandson and NorthPort starting point guard Nico Elorde paid tribute to her ‘lola,’ who he said the entire Elorde clan will surely miss. “Thank you for all the lessons and memories that you’ve shared with us,” said Elorde on Twitter. “Thank you for showing us how to be patient and religious. You are our light, lola. Forever in our hearts. We love you so much. Rest in peace, lola Laura.” Nico posted a photo of his grandmother sitting on a big chair beside a mural of the ‘Flash,’ who reigned as world lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967 and inducted in the international boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Laura is the daughter of the grand old man of Philippine boxing, the late Lope ‘Papa’ Sarreal. Following the death of his husband in 1985, Laura together with sons Gabriel Jr (Bebot), Marty, and Johnny, took over the family business of promoting boxing matches, mostly held at the family-owned Elorde Sports Center in Paranaque. The name Elorde also became a famous brand of boxing and fitness center, with several branches nationwide. In 2000, Laura and his family established the Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards and Banquet to honor former and current Filipino boxers for their victories and past achievements. Source: spin.ph
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