GAB FAILS TO RESPOND TO PROMOTER'S REQUEST FOR A PROBE ON HOW HIS SUSPENDED BOXER WAS ABLE TO FIGHT IN THAILAND
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Mar 2015
Games anbd Amusements Board chairman Ramon "Monju" Guazon has inexplicably failed to respond to well known promoter/manager Dante Almario's request for ?a full blown investigation? into how his boxer Angelito Merin who was on a 90 days medical suspension by the GAB was able to fight against Norasing Kokietgym in Thailand last February 14 after he suffered a 9th round TKO to Danilo Gabisay last December 13.
Almario said he had received no response from the GAB even as he wondered what was going on with the agency mandated to control and supervise professional boxing.
Almario claimed his fighter, who lost a six round unanimous decision to the Thai, fought on the undercard of the WBO Oriental light flyweight title fight between Lionel Legarda and Thailand?s Paipharob Kokietgym while another Filipino boxer identified as Joan Imperial also fought on the same card.
Almario disclosed that his contacts in Thailand told him that Merin carried the ring name ?Kirino? although boxrec.com reported the fight and indicated Merin used his real name Chapito Rivera who was listed as making his pro debut.
Almario claimed that the corner-men of Legada and Imperial also acted as his fighter?s corner-men.
The manager/promoter said it was another unauthorized fight which is a problem that has continuously plagued our boxing industry in the past years and is still very prevalent.?
Almario recalled that he had brought up the issue during the GAB Convention last year and appealed that this be investigated and stopped but that ?one year has passed since the convention but the illegal fights in other countries is getting worse and our boxers are the victims.?
Almario suggested that chairman Guanzon summon Merin and the persons who accompanied Legada and Imperial ?to shed light on how they ended up in that one show.?
The latest scandal involving a fighter sneaking out of the country to fight in Thailand without proper clearance comes in the midst of Guanzon?s threat to get a hold-departure order (which he later denied) to stop Olympic hopefuls Mark Anthony Barriga and Charly Suarez from going abroad to compete in an international governing body (AIBA) tournament which is considered an 2016 Olympic Games qualifier.
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