PBF president Almario dies

Dante Almario.

PHILIPPINE Boxing Federation [PBF] president Dante Almario died last March 28.

He was supposed to be 77 this coming June 15.

The viewing is presently at Almario’s residence at B8 L2 Champaca St., Don Juan Sucat in Muntinlupa City.

Almario will be laid to rest at Forest Lake in Biñan, Laguna on Sunday.

“We will have a meeting after the burial,” said Vice-President for Luzon Gerry Balmes of QuiBors Boxing Gym.

Balmes added that “Almario still has a boxing promotion in May.”

“He was the leader. He does it for the love of boxing. A big loss to Philippine boxing,” said promoter/manager and a former world champion Gerry Peñalosa of Gerrypens Promotion.

“He's a good leader and a good president. He has many plans that we always talk about for the PBF,” said Ford Rafa of Glenford Fitness Boxing Gym.

“But he's not a corrupt leader. I've proven that because even though the PBF has funds, he's the one who takes the lead to take the money for our own pockets. He's a friend and a father to me,” said Rafa.

Almario was spearheading a nationwide effort to revive Philippine boxing, which, after peaking from the 1960s to the 1980s, declined but continues to survive through grassroots programs.

The first official promotion as part of its effort to revive local boxing was last March 23 at the Elorde Sports Center Grand Ballroom.

PBF is also strengthening partnerships with local governments and working closely with the Games and Amusement Board to ensure proper regulation and sustained competitions across the country.