Buhain Appeals to OPBF Member Countries: ?Respect each other?s boxing commission?
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 19 Nov 2007
In order to finally nip in the bud "alarming" cases of boxing mismatches in the Oriental Pacific zone, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric R. Buhain has appealed to member countries of the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) to strictly follow the policies and requirements for boxers fighting abroad and "respect each other?s boxing commission."
Buhain made the appeal Nov. 13 during the 46th OPBF meeting at the Manila Hotel in the recent 45th World Boxing Council (WBC) convention even as he exhorted those in attendance to enforce the two most important mandatory requirements: submission of the boxer?s medical records and certification from the concerned boxing commission before a visiting boxer is allowed to fight.
"All we need to do to avoid cases of mismatches that would result into ring deaths is to respect each other?s boxing commission,? chortled Buhain. "We don?t want to see boxers going home in the caskets."
Buhain reminded fellow OPBF delegates of the OPBF Article 31-1 which states that "No boxer shall fight abroad unless authorized by his respective commission. Such authority shall be in the form of a letter of authorization addressed to the commission of the country where the contest will be held, including, among others, the personal photo, duly attested and authenticated by the issuing office of the commission. Promoters shall not accept the service of boxers without such letter of authorization."
INCIDENCE OF MISMATCHES
For his part, OPBF president Frank Quill acknowledged that the incidence of mismatches in the OPBF zone "as well as elsewhere in the world" has caused problems in boxing.
"This will be a keynote matter in the WBC convention and we in the OPBF will work independently and in cooperation with the WBC to resolve it," Quill said in his President?s Report 2007.
Quill stressed: "An allied point is the shameful abuse of traveling boxers by insensitive or unscrupulous?fortunately, a minority?number of promoters, trainers, managers and agents."
The OPBF chief added, "They ?pirate? boxers for mismatches overseas?without the knowledge of, or clearance by, those boxers? home commissions. Unfortunately, my home country, Australia, is an offender here."
He did not elaborate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jesse 'The Little Giant' Espinas Crowned WBC Asia Super Flyweight Champion in Exciting Knockout Victory in China
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 22 Jun 2025Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
Sun, 22 Jun 2025Filipinos De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha and Torres in Action in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 21 Jun 2025‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’: DAVID STEVENS DEFEATS PETR KHAMUKOV BY 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION
Sat, 21 Jun 2025Era and Nantapech Ready to Clash for WBF Asia in Thailand; Filipinos in the Undercard
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 21 Jun 2025Team USA Youth High Performance Steamrolls into Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Semis
Sat, 21 Jun 2025Weigh-In Results: Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Kamil Gardzielik
Sat, 21 Jun 2025‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’ 6 P.M PST/9 P.M. EST TONIGHT, LIVE ON DAZN, FEATURING STEVENS VS. KHAMUKOV
Sat, 21 Jun 2025YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 20 Jun 2025Thursday’s Action Featured Stellar Showings at the 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
Fri, 20 Jun 2025Finals Go All the Way to Game 7 as Indiana Bludgeons Oklahoma in Game 6, 108-91
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 20 Jun 2025Araneta Loses on Points in Odd Judging Setup; Still no Japanese World Welterweight Champion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 20 Jun 2025Espinas, Cao Make Weight, Ready for WBC Asia Battle Saturday in China
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 20 Jun 2025ASAPHIL Taps World-Class Coach to Lead RP Blu Girls to Greater Heights
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 20 Jun 2025YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 20 Jun 2025