GAB MUST EXPLAIN HOW IT APPROVED GOLEZ FIGHT VS SOSA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Jan 2012
Sosa (L) batters Golez.
We have been pointing out that the WBC International flyweight title fight between Filipino Roilo Golez and former world champion and No. 2 ranked Edgar Sosa who was defending his International title in Mexico was an obvious mismatch. But apparently the Games and Amusements Board and its officials didn?t think so.
They apparently approved the title fight between Golez who had a record of 13 wins, 7 defeats with 5 wins by way of knockout against the vastly more experienced Sosa whose record was 43 wins, 7 losses and 26 knockouts which meant that Sosa had twice as many knockouts as Golez had wins.
GAB Commisioner Aquil Tamano sought to explain the approval of the fight by the Boxing Division headed by Dr. Nasser Cruz by banking on a seriously questionable rule that as long as a boxer has won three of his last five fights he can be allowed to fight abroad.
It doesn't matter whether the 3 fights he won were against patsies as in the case of Golez' win over Dodoy Alapormina in his last fight on December 23, 2011. Golez won by a 5th round TKO but according to boxrec.com Alapormina had a miserable fight record of 1 win against 13 defeats.
Its not the number of wins or losses that should be the guiding principle. It should be who he fought and beat or lost to, and the quality of the opponents.
Its not merely a game of numbers because even if it is any average boxing fan would realize that Golez vs Sosa was a mismatch when you also consider that while Sosa is ranked No. 2 in the world, Golez is not even in the top 40!
What the Manila Standard warned against was a seeming mismatch based on the records and credentials of both fighters despite the brave predictions of Golez who eventually suffered a 7th round TKO, that he would knock Sosa out. The kid is brave, no question but bravery alone doesn't win fights against far superior opponents. .
All the pictures without exception posted on Fight News showed Sosa catching Golez time and again without a single photo of Golez connecting with a punch.
While we have no doubt that Golez is a gallant young fighter, allowing him to engage in such a patent mismatch could do irreparable damage to his career and his confidence and surely the GAB must share the blame.
The GAB also ignored the fact that Golez on October 1, 2011 lost by a 5th round TKO to Mexico?s Sammy Gutierrez in a bloody clash for the vacant WBC Silver title which Gutierrez dominated after Golez was deducted two points for a deliberate head-butt by referee Laurentino Oropeza in the opening round.
At the time of the stoppage which was 2:06 of round five, Golez was losing by a shutout (40-34) on the scorecards of all three judges. Yet, the GAB allowed the clash with Sosa to go ahead.
The common complaint of sports people and the public is that the government doesn?t really care about or invest in sports which was one of the reasons for our country?s disastrous 6th place finish in the recent Southeast Asian Games. Clearly the charge of lack of concern is validated by the GAB, which is directly under the Office of the President approving obvious mismatches.
Its not enough for GAB officials to fly out in a bunch to the US and enjoy the luxury of watching a Manny Pacquiao fight at one of the plush hotels in Las Vegas. What they need to do is to look after the lesser lights in Philippine boxing because Manny can take care of himself unlike fighters like Golez who the GAB so often feeds as fodder to superior fighters in Mexico and Japan.
Obviously, the GAB officials don?t know their boxing and if they do, they apparently don?t give a damn.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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