Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) – Four boxers who made stunning achievements last year will also be feted with major awards at the 2021 San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night on March 14 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial led the Philippines’ best Olympic performance in history as they backed the feat of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who won the country’s first ever Olympic gold after 97 years and will also be named as the 2021 PSA Athlete of the Year.
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The trio also broke the 25-year medal drought of the Philippine boxing team in the Olympics, where Onyok Velasco last won a silver in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Also to be recognized during the 2021 SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night is reigning World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., who defied the odds and age to become the oldest world champion in the division after knocking Nordine Oubaali in the fourth round during their title fight last May.
The 39-year-old Donaire also defended his crown last December with a fourth-round stoppage of compatriot Reymart Gaballo and won the 2021 Premier Boxing Champions Fighter of the Year award.
Other awardees at the annual affair organized by the country’s oldest media organization are champion golfer Yuka Saso and world gymnastics titlist Carlos Yulo both for the President’s Award, basketball legends Robert Jaworski Sr. and Ramon Fernandez both for the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino for the Executive of the Year.
The 2021 SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night is backed by the POC, Philippine Sports Commission, and Cignal TV. The event is also presented by the Philippine Basketball Association, MILO, 1 Pacman, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, Smart, Philippine Racing Commission, and MVP Sports Foundation.
