By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Japanese featherweight Shigeji Kaneko who beat Gabriel “Flash” Elorde four times in fights in Japan passed away on Saturday night in Tokyo.

Kaneko’s son Misako who accompanied his father when he was special guest at the Annual ‘Flash” Elorde Awards and Banquet of Champions informed Elorde’s eldest son Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde of Kaneko’s passing but gave no other details.

In a strange coincidence, Kaneko passed away some hours after the Elorde family led by the matriarch Laura Elorde and her family and friends had celebrated Mass at the Manila Memorial Park in memory of Elorde’s  31st death anniversary.

Elorde died at the age of 49 while Kaneko passed away at the age of 84.

Elorde who was a heavy smoker died of lung canver while Kaneko died of pneumonia.

Although boxrec.com lists four wins by Kaneko over Elorde, two of those decisions were highly controversial  but Elorde who became firm friends with Kaneko never complained.

In paying tribute to Elorde at his Annual Awards Night, Kaneko told this reporter,“Flash Elorde was a good and decent man. He was a good fighter and I learned so much from him.”

Kaneko and Elorde last met in a ten round bout at the Metropolitan Gym in Tokyo in a bout which the Japanese won by a controversial majority decision on September 24, 1957.

In their third meeting on October 3, 1956 in Tokyo, Kaneko won a ten round decision while in their third fight for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight title Kaneko won by narrow points decision on June 29, 1954.

In their first showdown the solidly-built  Kaneko prevailed via a ten round points decision. In Hyogo on August 8, 1953.