GAB CHAIRMAN ABRAHAM MITRA AND HIS STAFF GIVE CASIMERO A HEROES WELCOME
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Sep 2016
Games and Amusements Board chairman Abraham Mitra and the GAB employees gave IBF flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero a rousing heroes welcome when he visit the GAB office to pay a courtesy call on the chairman on Monday.
Cheering employees kept chanting Casimero?s name while confetti rained down on the champion in an amazing welcome that was both touching and thoughtful with Johnreil holding back the tears in his brief response to the welcome remarks of Chairman Mitra.
It was the very first time that a returning champion received such a welcome.
Chairman Mitra said while watching a replay of Casimero?s 10th round TKO of British champion C harlie Edwards that he got goose bumps remembering that Johnreil had promised to retain his title for our country.
Chairman Mitra said President Rody Duterte who is a sports fan was the good luck charm and said ?we will have more champions in the future with a fighting president.?
The former three-term congressman and governor of Palawan and son of the illustrious former speaker, the late Ramon Mitra, said he wants to innovate and ?help our boxers and promoters? and is open to suggestions from various sectors involved in the sport.
Chairman Mitra said ?we will listen to suggestions? and emphasized that ?the welfare and safety of our boxers? is his primary concern.
The GAB chairman said he is hoping that next year the budget of the GAB will hopefully be increased from the current P80 million to P100 million.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani recalled the desire of Casimero to receive a heroes welcome which the GAB chairman and his staff arranged.
Mitra stressed his desire to protect our boxers because he believes ?it is nice to be safe rather than sorry.?
Highlights of the heroes welcome accorded Casimero, trainer Jhun Agrabio and promoter Sammy Gello-ani will be included in this Saturday?s Viva Sports presentation of the top-rating weekly boxing show ?The Main Event? on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday with a replay at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The program will also provide a preview of the showdown between the longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes and former champion and current NO. 4 ranked flyweight Edgar Sosa of Mexico at the StubHub Center on Sunday morning, Manila Time.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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