BIG BOXING CONFERENCE IN BORACAY CALLED OFF
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 10 Jan 2007
The much-ballyhooed joint conference of the World Boxing Empire (WBE) and the Womens International Boxing Association (WIBA)which was to be hosted by the Games and Amusements Board in the beautiful resort of Boracay and to be highlighted by a WIBA title fight for women and a WBE title fight for men has been called off.
Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that the conference which GAB Commissioner Alex Paglumotan had billed as "another glorious moment in the history of Philippine boxing" with the approval of GAB chairman Eric Buhain and a "fulfillment to the national sporting agenda of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Strong Republic" and a commitment towards "global competitiveness and recognition" was cancelled because of lack of sponsors.
It was learned that efforts to seek the help of the WBE and the WIBA in defraying the costs of staging the conference were reportedly turned down.
In the meantime, the head of the GAB Boxing Division Dr. Nasser Cruz is continuing his efforts to clean-up the sport, initially targeting unlicensed boxers or retired fighters being sneaked out of the country only to get mauled in terrible mismatches in Thailand.
Responding to a story in The Standard about three boxers being badly beaten in Thailand recently, Dr. Cruz said he had sent an official letter asking promising young fighter Richie Mepranum whether he actually fought undefeated WBC Youth flyweight champion Panomroonglek Kratiangdaenggym as reported by boxrec.com. Mepranum was reportedly knocked down twice before being knocked out in the sixth round by the champion who had a record of 15-0 with 8 knockouts.
Dr. Cruz said it was possible that another "colorum" fighter used his name which is known to have happened many times in the past. The boxing division chief said that Mepranum was not cleared to fight in Thailand and "if the fight really happened he will be suspended."
Dr. Cruz disclosed that two other fighters identified by boxrec.com as Roger Monserto and Roger Berloza were "not really registered boxers" and that he had written to WBC official Rex Walker. At the same time the GAB official disclosed that he had also written to the Thai Boxing Commission regarding promoters recruiting "unlicensed and retired boxers" stressing that the GAB "doesn't want such boxers to be allowed to fight in Thailand."
Monserto suffered a fifth round TKO at the hands of former world flyweight champion Medgoen Singsurat while Berloza suffered a crushing fourth round TKO in a fight against former world champion Chatchai Sasakul.
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