MANILA, Philippines — Eight rugged bouts topbilled by a Philippine championship will be offered free to the public on Sunday in the Fiesta Fistiana at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate, Manila.
RP super bantamweight king Alex Escanaer stakes his crown against No. 3 Jake Verano in the card organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association and the Manila city government for the benefit of destitute and disabled boxers.
The event is also a commitment of the Manila Sports Council to Philippine boxing, said Arnold “Ali” Atienza, a former presidential adviser on youth and sports who is seeking the mayoralty of Manila.
Atienza launched Manila’s boxing program last year and has since been able to put up boxing gyms in the city, including the San Andres Sports and Civic Center and the Tondo Sports Complex.
Atienza has left the Masco but his programs go on as planned under new Masco chief Arsenic Lacson, formerly of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission.
San Miguel Corp., Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission are the main sponsors while also supporting the event are Philippine Airlines, SM, Caltex Philippines and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
In other featured bouts, No. 4 super bantam Jun Talape battles Johnny Lear, RP No. 1 featherweight Mike Farinas takes on former Philippine champion Jephrey Onate.
