PHILBOXING.COM EXCLUSIVE: GAB STRIPS CATUBAY OF RP FLYWEIGHT TITLE!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Jan 2006
Federico "Magnifico" Catubay, who almost gave the country a major honor after a close decision loss for the OPBF title, has just been stripped of his RP 112-lb crown by the Games and Amusements Board following what the agency termed as "a violation of the GAB rules concerning title defenses."
The decision came the other day, after Catubay failed to defend his title after one year since winning it last January 3, 2005.
GAB chairman Eric Buhain, in his letter denying an earlier request by Catubay's manager Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani to reschedule Catubay's title defense to January 15 for the Sinulog Festival, cited Article 23 of the GAB rules, which states: "A champion must defend his title within six months after acquiring or successfully defending such title, provided there is a worthy challenger...if there is no worthy challenger and promoter willing to stage the contest, an extension of another six months may be granted. In NO CASE shall the period for defending a title exceed one year from the date of acquiring or successfully defending such title. Failure to so defend the title shall be sufficient ground for the Board to declare the title vacant."
Gello-ani, in an interview, informed that last December 20, he had submitted to the GAB-Cebu office his proposed January 3 card featuring Catubay's defense against Louie Bantigue. However, according to Gello-ani, the local GAB personnel had told him that they would be unable to supervise such card stating that it was too close from the long holidays. Moreover, the boxers would not have been allowed anyway to fight on January 3, as their licenses had not yet been renewed.
Hence, Gello-ani sent another letter to GAB-Makati on December 29, re-scheduling the fight to January 15, 2006 which falls on the annual Sinulog mardi gras, as an offering to the Sto. Nino, the Cebuanos' patron saint.
GAB, however, wrote a rejoinder on January 2, just a day before the original schedule, denying his request.
Last Wednesday, January 4, Gello-ani again sent a letter to GAB-Makati, requesting that since Catubay has been stripped of his title, that he be given the courtesy of being included in the eliminations for the vacated title on January 15 "against any contender your office will designate, considering that though he was stripped of his title, we believe he is still qualified to regain his crown."
Yesterday, the GAB sent another letter to Gello-ani, regretfully denying his request.
GAB Commissioner Alex Paglumotan, who signed the letter, said he did so "with a heavy heart" considering that Gello-ani is an esteemed promoter and Catubay a worthy champion.
Catubay, in an interview conducted by a crew of ABS-CBN at the ALA Gym yesterday, said he was hopeful he can still fight for the crown, as he believes there's only one way to lose it: inside the ring, and not off it.
END
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
Thu, 02 Oct 2025IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thu, 02 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 02 Oct 2025World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 01 Oct 2025JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 01 Oct 2025CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
Wed, 01 Oct 2025USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
Wed, 01 Oct 2025Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Oct 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
By Eric Armit, Tue, 30 Sep 2025