Thai camp awaits ABAP team
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Mar 2021
Olympic qualifiers Eumir Marcial (L) and Irish Magno.
After a tedious process of finalizing travel arrangements, an ABAP team of 10 fighters is set to leave for training camp in Thailand this Wednesday and will stay about 1 1/2 months before possibly relocating to another country where a pre-Olympic tournament may be held. The contingent will not initially include Olympic middleweight qualifier Eumir Marcial, who's in L. A., and U.K.-based lightheavyweight John Marvin. Olympic women’s flyweight qualifier Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and
Carlo Paalam are in the delegation.
Because of the pandemic, visas are now required for travelers to enter Thailand even if they’re from Southeast Asia. It took about two months to obtain clearances from the Ministries of Health and Interior in Thailand then another two to three weeks for the Thai Embassy in Manila to issue visas. Marcial’s clearance documents were forwarded to the Thai consulate in L. A. but it’s not sure if he’ll join the camp in Thailand.
At the moment, only Marcial and Magno from the ABAP team are qualified for Tokyo but Petecio and Paalam should make it as the highest-ranked Asians available to book tickets since the world qualifiers were cancelled by the IOC Boxing Task Force. ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said he’s not counting chickens before they’re hatched. The IOC will base who are the qualifiers from the updated standings and make an announcement any day from March 10 to 16. Since there are no competitions from now until then, the rankings shouldn’t change, meaning Petecio and Paalam will get their slots for Tokyo. Picson, however, said there are no guarantees until the tickets are formally awarded.
AIBA, meanwhile, is opposing the cancellation of the world qualifiers. AIBA president Umar Kremlev of Russia said the ranking system “does not take into account youth competitions as young boxers born in 2001-02 will be deprived of the chance to compete at the Games and fulfill their dream … a qualification tournament would be a more objective way to qualify for the Olympics.” But IOC may not be inclined to listen to AIBA particularly as IOC executive board member Nenad Lalovic of Serbia was chairman of the Olympic inquiry panel that decided to strip AIBA of Olympic recognition. Picson said it’s possible that once the ABAP team leaves for Thailand, the Tokyo-bound boxers may not return home until after the Olympics. “It will depend on the training we’re able to arrange,” he said. Marcial has been invited to join the Thai camp but he’s immersed in workouts in L. A. with Freddie Roach supervising his training. At some point, he’ll hook up with the ABAP team in Thailand or elsewhere.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MELBOURNE FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL AS NICOLSON TAKES ON TURNER FOR THE WBC INTERIM WORLD TITLE
Mon, 27 Apr 2026‘I’m coming to put on a performance—something exciting, something real. Don’t blink – The Black Hulk Bilal Seidu is back May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
Mon, 27 Apr 2026Fil-Am Brandon Kier Sustento strikes again in US chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 27 Apr 2026Llover nears title shot
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 27 Apr 2026All Star Boxing, Inc. Signs Undefeated Japanese Prospect Yuga Ozaki to Multi-Year Promotional Agreement
Mon, 27 Apr 2026Labog rules Okada Manila Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 27 Apr 2026Dacullo Edges Cometa in Thriller, Remains GAB Philippine Youth Minimum weight Champion
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 27 Apr 2026SKYE NICOLSON FIRES WARNING TO MARIAH TURNER AS SHE TARGETS HOMECOMING WIN THIS WEDNESDAY IN BID TO LAND UNDISPUTED SHOT
Mon, 27 Apr 2026Salim Ellis-Bey Concludes 2026 World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 with Silver Medal
Mon, 27 Apr 2026IIEE PSME Quezon City wins all matches in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 27 Apr 2026Alvin Gayeta Roma leads Mansa Engineering team to the championship of the Oliver Laroya 3x3 (Tatluhan) Rapid Chess Team Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 26 Apr 2026Simona Winkler, Salim Ellis-Bey and Noelle Haro Advance to Medal Rounds At 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
Sun, 26 Apr 2026Sanman 100 Official Weigh-In Results from General Santos
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Subkhankulov stops Usmonov, Agrba wins hard test, and Aminova claims WBA Asia title at IBA.PRO 17 in Ufa
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Pero vs Miller: Heavies Collide in Prove it fight on DAZN
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 25 Apr 2026