Boxing needs total reprogramming, genuine change
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Aug 2016
IT MAY be a disaster, a debacle, an anomaly, disgrace and scandal. By any name, the shameful showing of the two over-hyped, over-traveled, overfed Filipino boxers in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics was a super boo-boo that caused a horrible stink.
With the monumental foulness, the head of the national amateur boxing agency had no choice but try and step out of the unbearable scene.
Ricky Vargas, president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap), offered to resign. At the same time, he blindly suggested that national boxing superhero Manny Pacquiao take over his post.
* * *
Pacquiao did not tarry. He readily agreed to serve.
Yes, why not, Pacquiao said: ?Susuportahan ko ang boxing, diyan ako nanggaling.?
Great move, and this could only mean the national amateur boxing body can now look forward to fresh crucial changes.
* * *
Relevant rehabilitation should be forthcoming, although we?ll never know how and when.
Meanwhile, everything in the national amateur backyard hangs.
The Abap executive director, whose duty it is to explain, if not admit, where they had failed, has been unheard of, so far.
* * *
Well, in case they haven?t realized, Tokyo 2020 is closer than they think, if we consider how the Abap has wantonly squandered golden opportunities these past eight years.
They can?t go on with the coreless grope-fly-and-miss method applied by the ruling national boxing body in the last two Olympics.
In fact, Manny Lopez, head of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines responsible for the last Philippine boxing medal, the silver won by Mansueto Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, came out firing by crying that big money alone can?t vouch for medals in the
Olympics, alluding to the boundless financial assistance given by the MVP Group of Companies to the national boxing body.
* * *
Getting to the core of the problem, Lopez also decried how the Olympics and other foreign competitions had been freely turned into sightseeing tours by certain lead amateur boxing officials.
Lopez did not say it, but the sorry situation in the national boxing backyard cries for genuine change.
A total reprogramming is imperative. We hereby suggest studying the secret of world boxing power Mexico, whose successful program, anchored on an informal boxing academy, was bared to this reporter by the late Don Jose Sulaiman, longest serving president of the World
Boxing Council. We will detail that secret, intended for the Philippine Sports Commission, in the next column.
Photo: The Abap team in Singapore.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025