WBO OPENS ARMS TO JAPAN
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Dec 2009
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) welcomes the chance to work with Japanese promoters and managers so that Japanese boxers can fight under their banner. WBO Asia-Pacific Chairman Leon Panoncillo wrote an e-mail in response to my article posted yesterday at philboxing.com regarding Mr. Koichi Matsumoto?s visit to the ALA Gym and his plan to have his boxers like former WBC minimumweight champ Katsunari Takayama campaign in other organizations aside from the WBA and WBC.
Mr. Panoncillo alluded to the fact that after Manny Pacquiao won the WBO title from Miguel Cotto and naming him super champion, more and more promoters across Asia-Pacific have been intrigue of our WBO Organization. He said that it is just a matter of time that not only Mr. Matsumoto will be interested but there will be other promoters that will be inquiring about the WBO.
Mr. Panoncillo also mentioned other Japanese who have already sent feelers to the WBO like ? the group of Kenichi Yamaguchi who fought Billy Dibb in a controversial match at Australia is also inquiring to hold WBO championship programs at Japan. Another respected fighter in Japan who had the opportunity to vie for the WBO Oriental Cruiser-weight title at Australia, Boxer Yoshinori Nishizawa is planning to turn promoter and start promoting the WBO Organization at Japan.?
He plans to eventually meet with head leader of Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) to establish a working relationship with them in the future.
?I always believed that we should not deprive young fighters of the opportunity to eventually establish their goal as world champion not only with their respected organization that they are accustomed to but with also the (WBO) World Boxing Organization as well. I am always here to help, and help is what I can give the country of Japan if they would see the benefit of it.?
He emphasized the strong presence of the WBO in the Asia-Pacific region and also cited the Boxing World Cup which opened doors for boxers from Thailand and the Philippines when they were matched up against Mexican boxers. It was the WBO that provided titles for the said event.
Mr. Panoncillo has extended an invitation to Japanese promoters interested in working with the WBO. ?They can e-mail me at wboasiapacific@yahoo.com or they can stop by my office at Na-nakorn Estate Building 99-349 Chaeng Watana Road. Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand.?
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