Philippine Sports Commission Wants To Have A Say In Forming National Boxing Team

 

The Philippine Sports Commission wants to have a say in the formation of a national boxing team that will be sent to compete overseas, chairman Richie Garcia said after a meeting with Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer.

Garcia said he has informed the Philippine Olympic Committee about his plan to convince the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines to allow amateur standouts from other stables to participate in a qualifying tournament for meets like the Southeast Asian Games and even the Asian Games.

POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco, according to Garcia, was receptive to his idea after the two spoke on Wednesday at Wack Wack.

Garcia met with Aldeguer during a trip to Cebu last week and Aldeguer, who has a stable composed mostly of professional boxers, agreed to lend a hand.

Aldeguer used to run an amateur boxing program and several of his standouts — Gerry Penalosa, Joma Gamboa, Malcolm Tunacao, Donnie Nietes — went on to become world champions after turning professional.

In the 1990s, two Aldeguer punchers — Tunacao and Mayol — were called to join the amateur team but they hurriedly left for the Queen City because of claims of favoritism.

Even some of Aldeguer’s current fighters, including world title hopeful Milam Melindo, had been quoted as saying that he did not pursue an amateur career because of favoritism and politics.

The PSC is in dire need to make changes in the way members of a national team are being selected following the monotony of losses in the international arena despite solid financial backing from business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs the ABAP.

The Philippines could only come up with one qualifier in the London Olympics in light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga, who almost passed out due to exhaustion in his second-round bout.

Garcia said he will try his best to convince the Abap to allow other fighters to join their qualifying matches.

 

 

source: interaksyon.com