GAB RESPONDS TO DE LA VEGA REGARDING BOXER'S DENTAL HEALTH
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 09 Feb 2019
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Philippines' regulatory agency for professional sports, has responded to Dr. Ed de la Vega's criticism of the agency's lack of concern for Filipino boxers' dental health, especially those who are cleared to fight outside of the country.
De La Vega, a prominent Filipino-American dentist who specializes in cosmetic and sports dentistry based in Canoga Park, California who once was a member of the California State Board of Dental Examiners and who also writes for Philboxing.com, wrote a scathing article last Wednesday putting the GAB to task for sending boxers abroad with badly damaged teeth.
"From my humble point of view, dental problems should never be an issue for the fighters slated to fight abroad. To assure this, the problem(s) must be addressed before boxers are allowed to leave the country. It is the GAB?s responsibility to see to it that is done," De La Vega wrote.
In an unsigned letter sent to Philboxing from the office of GAB chairman Abraham Mitra, the agency said "We will consider discussing Dental/Oral Hygience in connection with our Mouth Guard lecture in our rounds of Gym inspection and to emphasize this in all other Professional Sports as well."
Currently GAB require boxers who fight abroad to have ECG, Chest X-Ray, Drug test, Hepatitis B and CT Scan. The agency, under the present administration, has a widely applauded memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct these examinations to Filipino boxers free of charge.
The agency says it will only require boxers a dental clearance if mandated by the world boxing organizations. "Should these World Boxing Bodies or Commissions require our Boxers to have a Dental Clearance we will ask DOH for its inclusion in our MOA," GAB said in the letter.
De La Vega, on the other hand, believes that dental health is a serious issue. ?I believe that GAB should look far beyond their primary focus ... They must also focus on little things that can suddenly become a big issue and can cancel a fight or God forbid, lead to a loss of life like in the case of Pancho Villa.?
Below is GAB's letter in full.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 30 May 2026O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 30 May 2026WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz
Sat, 30 May 2026FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
Sat, 30 May 2026AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday
Sat, 30 May 2026Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 30 May 2026‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver
Sat, 30 May 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy
Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 30 May 2026Johann Chua claims Duya Airplay Sport 5800 Charity Cup Crown, pockets US$50,000 tops prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 30 May 2026“While others debate governance, the IBA continues to deliver.” IBA CEO & Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE on the organisation’s resilience and global ambition
Sat, 30 May 2026MP Pro Announces Signed Undefeated Prospects J'Hon Ingram, Amir Anderson, David Lopez, and Kayla Gomez to Compete on "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach, California
Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy to challenge Collazo on June 20
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 May 2026UNDEFEATED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNIE ALVAREZ RETURNS TO THE RING ON JUNE 13 IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
Fri, 29 May 202620 Matchups Set for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, To Determine 2026 USA Wrestling World Championship Teams
Fri, 29 May 2026