GAB's Mitra Not Wavering On Vow to Push Boxing Despite the Covid 19 Crisis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Jun 2020
When former Palawan governor Abraham Mitra took the helm as Chairman of the Games and Amusements Board, among his major vows was to push for the continued development of boxing particularly on the domestic front.
Noting that Philippine boxing has continued to enjoy a golden era on account of the exploits of Pinoy fighters, especially Senator Manny Pacquiao in the foreign rings, Chairman Mitra has determined that it is only proper that the local boxing scene should keep apace with our progress on the international stage.
Hence, he has since instituted changes and reforms within the GAB and the domestic boxing scene which are aimed at enhancing and improving the Board's operations and delivery of regulatory and development services to assist boxers, managers, promoters and other players as well as stakeholders of the fight sport.
Among others, he has effected better health care system for boxers in coordination with the Department of Health and PhilHealth.
He has also seen to the much improved training and continuous professional development of boxing referees and judges, among other ring officials.
Recognizing the importance of transparency and effective communication and information dissemination, his opening of channels to the media and boxing players and stakeholders through regular dialogues and consultations has gone a long way in fostering unity and understanding in the sector.
Significantly, Chairman Mitra told this writer recently that the GAB has even went out of its way to secure a regular television slot and provide free internet streaming for boxing through the GAB official Facebook page to help promote local boxing events.
He said promoting boxing event is not part of the Board's responsibility and his move to help put boxing on TV could even be misconstrued as intervention bordering on conflict of interest, but still he did it to support the fight sport.
The aim was to help put domestic boxing to the level being enjoyed in other countries like Japan and Thailand where the sport was better supported by the private sector because it was regularly being seen on TV.
Regretfully though, he said there were no takers from among the promoters, even the bigger ones.
This was shortly before the Covid pandemic hit the country which has since March forced boxing and practically most of human development activities and endeavors globally to grind to a halt.
Now that the country as most of the world is on the way to reopen and restart its economy including sports entertainment industry in a new normal of physical distancing, among other medical and health oriented regimens, television and the online media are seen to play important roles.
With this development, perhaps Chairman Mitra would not have as hard time convincing big players and stakeholders in local boxing to take a second look at television and the online media as an indispensable platform to restart and resume in viable and safe manner the fight sport hereabouts.
From all indications, the good GAB head honcho is not straying a bit from his promises and commitments particularly to see boxing through its continuing golden era in the local and international stage.
Especially in this era of continuing difficulties and challenges in our transition to a new normal.
Chairman Mitra could be a firm believer of what the late South African great statesman Nelson Mandela said about the ability of sports to raise hopes when before there was only despair.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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