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:
Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
Fri, 06 Mar 2026AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 06 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
Fri, 06 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
Fri, 06 Mar 2026International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026