League of Destiny to ramp amateur boxing
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 17 Jun 2023
Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has come up with an innovative plan to boost amateur boxing through his own MP League of Destiny where clubs from across the country will compete in 11 weight classes over four seasons of 78 days each a year tentatively starting Oct. 1.
League officials Joe Ramos and Gerry Garcia conferred with ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo in Makati the other day on points of coordination to implement the project. The league is envisioned to be a pathway for fighters to pursue their Olympic dreams or turn pro. It will complement Pacquiao’s pro series “Blow By Blow.”
The three-round fights will be aired live every day on MPTV (Cignal Channel 98) and delayed on OneSports and OnePH. Ramos said a fight venue near a gym facility and dorm is now being scouted. “Once it’s off the ground, we intend to franchise the concept of MP League of Destiny to other countries,” said Ramos. “Minimum age is 18. We might open the league to pros up to 25 years old with no more than 10 fights. That’s still subject to discussion. We’re inviting teams to participate with two fighters in each division from minimumweight to welterweight. With 16 teams, we’ll bring in 352 fighters. We’ll house them in a dorm for the duration of each season. There will be a 12-day break in between 78-day seasons. The format is double elimination with a winners and losers bracket. Six wins will clinch the championship. Fighters will box once every two weeks then every day starting the semis. They’re weighed in the morning of each fight. The champion in each division will receive P200,000 and the second placer, P100,000 with the third and fourth placers, P50,000 each. The overall team champion will get P500,000.”
Garcia said each day will feature 11 fights. “Right now, 10 teams have submitted complete lineups, eight more with rosters being filled and 18 expressing interest to join,” he said. “We’re targeting at least 16 teams but we could go up to 26.” Garcia said he expects teams from General Santos City, Digos, Kidapawan, Sorsogon, Taguig, Malabon, Sta. Rosa, Camarines Sur, Surigao, La Trinidad and Batangas to enlist. Manalo said the league is a workable vehicle for talent identification and training ground for referees/judges. “During each season, we could conduct workshops on video analysis, nutrition, coaching and skills training to upgrade the level of scientific knowledge of our boxers and coaches,” he noted. “This will also expand our data base from which to pick prospects for our national pool.”
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