Naming two winners who also merit recognition
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Jan 2018
Mitra (L) and Corteza (R).
THE chairman of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) had to do the reporting himself from Baku, Azerbaijan after his agency, under the Office of the President, was honored as Commission of the Year by the World Boxing Council (WBC). Chairman Abraham Mitra sent a report to philboxing.com, whose founder and chief editor, Dong Secuya, immediately posted it for popular consumption.
The event was the 55th WBC Convention last October. The GAB was specifically cited for instituting free medical check-up to boxers who apply for license renewal. It?s a must for poor boxers to undergo brain scan, an expensive procedure, before being cleared for competition.
At the closing of the convention, other world boxing commissions represented in the WBC convention were encouraged to try and follow the Philippine example.
**
Also last October, veteran pool internationalist Lee Van Corteza scored a sensational win by beating the fabulous Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in a world pool title challenge in New York.
The event was the Bottledeck 77th World 14.1 Championship, a much-coveted trophy that has been won only by an elite cast of international pool stars that included the legendary Efren ?Bata? Reyes.
There has been no word on what happened to Cortezs after that big win, unlike with Carlo Biado who shot up to instant stardom following his triumph in the World Pool League 9-ball championship in Dubai.
**
Anyway, Corteza?s world triumph cannot compare with what Biado had achieved in joining the likes of Django Bustamanta, Bata Reyes, Ronnie Arcano as World Pool League winners.
This is not to insinuate any slip or oversight in the forthcoming Philippine Sportswriters Awards Night. Their selection has been done both competently and professionally.
But the achievement of GAB Chairman Mitra and Corteza?s big triumph, we find fit to at least mention in this humble corner because they too made a difference.
We hereby thank philboxing.com for chronicling the twin triumphs (of Corteza and Mitra) which initially failed to make it to popular print media.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026