NEW ABAP LEADERSHIP GETS CRACKING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Jan 2009
Ricky Vargas.
The new leadership of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines headed by Ricky Vargas as president and Manny Pangilinan as chairman has got cracking in its efforts to discover exciting new talents in the ultimate quest for regional recognition and a coveted first Olympic gold medal.
Vargas, the former PBA chairman was scheduled to visit the fine facilities at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig Tuesday where the national pool members were to see action.
Vargas is also scheduled to visit the ABAP training camp in Baguio City on January 7 after which he would travel to Davao , Cebu and Bacolod to meet with local amateur boxing officials and potential supporters of the sport.
The year will hopefully get off to a start that?s a knockout when the Smart-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championship gets underway on January 17 with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as special guest.
There will also be an ABAP board of trustees meeting to be chaired by Pangilinan, followed by a boxing congress where potential sponsors and stakeholders will be invited. The congress is being organized by ABAP with the support of Smart and POC chairman, congressman Monico Puentevella.
Vargas hopes that the national championships from January 16-23 will ?usher in the glory days of Philippine boxing.?
One of the promising amateurs being eyed to remain in the national pool is bantamweight Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr, son of the former world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa and nephew of reigning WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa.
The 17 year old Penalosa who was highly praised by the Cuban coaches was set to turn pro last December 27 but former ABAP secretary general and WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud and this reporter met with the Penalosa brothers and convinced them to keep Dodie Boy Jr in the amateur ranks for the sake of the country?s quest for Olympic success, hopefully in London in 2012.
Dodie Boy Penalosa said he would wish for nothing better for his son than to bring honor to the country.
Vargas requested that we help arrange a meeting with the former world champion during his visit to Cebu to explore a possible agreement that would ensure that Dodie Boy Jr remains an amateur.
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