GAB To Strictly Scrutinize Competitiveness of Rated/Non-Rated Pinoy Boxers With Bouts Abroad
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Oct 2022
The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) recently conducted a consultative meeting via Zoom with local boxing promoters, managers, trainers and ring officials and presented its recommendations and proposed courses of action to ensure the quality and competitiveness of rated and non rated Filipino boxers fighting abroad.
The move was in response to the deteriorating performance and results of Filipino fighters with overseas fight assignments since 2017 particularly in Japan where the losing percentage was almost 90 percent.
GAB officer in charge Atty Ermar U. Benitez presided over the meeting with GAB Boxing and and Other Combat Sports Division head Jackie Lou Cancio Ornido and presented the pro sports regulatory agency's recommendations and to draw inputs from boxing stakeholders on how to further improve them.
There was general consensus among the participants that the GAB recommended measures are needed to protect specifically our touring fighters but the recent Memo Circular banning non rated Filipino boxers from fighting in preliminary bouts abroad should just be temporary until a more thorough vetting and evaluation system as well as procedures are put into place.
Noted promoter Brico Santig and ring official Danrex Tapdasan were adamant that the stricter scrutiny and evaluation of the fighters vis a vis their foreign counterparts should not adversely affect their livelihood as this is professional sport after all.
Others noted that we should not expect too much about the performance and results of our boxers fighting abroad as the host or inviting countries as the Philippines are interested in keeping their local fans happy with almost assured wins by the host fighters.
However, everyone agreed that the manner of our foreign ring losses; mostly by KO or TKO many against fledgling Japanese fighters should be looked closely into and arrested before the image of Philippine style of boxing suffer even more.
On that score, the GAB recommended an improved and stricter boxers categorization and rating systems based exclusively on performance and merit. The GAB also will be taking a more active and stricter role in vetting the quality and performance of Filipino rated and non rated boxers with fight assignments abroad as well as their prospective foes taking into account likewise amateur and other combat sports experience and records.
Continuing poor records and performance as well as long inactivity of fighters will also result to downward recategorization, downgrading as well as removal from ratings. Boxers with legal conviction or have been suspended by recognized boxing bodies will also be removed from the rating.
Generally, Filipino fighters rated 1-15 by the GAB are allowed to fight abroad in as many as two dozen countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.
Non rated Filipino fighters have been also allowed as initiated to improve their earnings by immediate past GAB Chairman Abraham Khalil Mitra prior to the recent Memo Circular which has been enforced pending further review by the new GAB leadership.
To boost local boxing, GAB OIC Benitez said the agency will assist in the establishment of more promotional firms; linkages and partnerships with interested LGUs and private entities, possible media including social media tie up and sponsorships as well as upgrading and modernisation of training of boxers and trainers. To help reduce the overhead expenses of promoters, the GAB will also work for the free use of national or local government facilities for use in events.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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