One can never forget the epic battle between Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde and American Sandy Saddler in Manila on July 20, 1955 which even the World Boxing Council recalled in its daily flashback.
That night Elorde stunned the boxing world when he out-pointed the world featherweight champion Saddler in a ten-round, non title fight.
It was a fight etched in the memories of many for the sheer gallantry of Elorde against a veteran world champion who was regarded by most as one of the dirtiest boxers in the business.
The late renowned journalist Teddy Benigno didn?t give Elorde a chance against Sadler. When it was over Benigno, in his usual masterful fashion, wrote, "with his legs almost shot from under him ? his face a rucksack of welts, cuts and bruises ? his eyes mere slits ? Elorde would pull that courage from some inner, invisible scabbard and turn the tide."
Elorde won on the scorecards of all three judges. Referee Jade Sullivan gave Elorde 8 rounds and Saddler only 1 while the two other judges had Elorde ahead by 7 rounds to 3 and 8 rounds to 2.
With his new-found confidence and his ranking as a contender, the young Elorde dared to face Saddler in a rematch on January 18, 1956, with Sadler?s featherweight title on the line at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Elorde fought brilliantly and was leading on the scorecards of all the judges when the referee called a halt to the fight in the 13th round because of a nasty cut suffered by Elorde as Sadler laced, poked, elbowed and pawed the young Filipino in an ugly display of viciousness in the ring.
Boxing fans booed Saddler, howled over the stoppage and rained the ring with debris. Philippine Ambassador to Washington, the eminent diplomat Carlos P. Romulo told Elorde "you may have lost the fight, but you won the hearts of Americans by your gallantry."
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