A long-term boxing program patterned after that in General Santos City, hometown of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, was launched in Bacolod City, Tuesday.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the 1st Mayor Bing Amateur Boxing Tournament will hold a citywide competition among aspiring boxers and, hopefully, one of them will emerge as the next boxing champion of the country.
To give the crowd who attended the launching ceremony in Brgy. Sum-ag Gymnasium, a glimpse of exciting boxing bouts, 26 amateur boxers from the cities of Bacolod, Talisay and Bago competed in exhibition matches.
Among those who witnessed the event were Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines secretary general, Rogelio Fortaleza, who also inducted into office the officers of the newly-formed Amateur Boxing Association of Bacolod.
Sworn in were former Games and Amusement Board Chairman Eduardo Villanueva as president; Secretary to the Mayor Goldwyn Nifras, vice president; Robinson’s Joseph Sian, secretary; Jonathan Sy, treasurer; Vincent Dabao, auditor; Melvin Recabas, business manager; and Henceboy Cestina, PIO. ABAP regional secretary general Greg Jimena is the group?s consultant.
Meanwhile, Fortaleza expressed hopes that new boxing talents who will follow in the footsteps of Elias Recaido, Joan Tipon, Onyok Velasco and the Jamili brothers will be discovered in the 1st Mayor Bing boxing tournament.
?These boxers brought glory to amateur boxing,? Fortaleza said. ABAP regional president Wilfredo Ciocon, who was also present during the launching rites, said the tournament will keep the young away from illegal drugs and juvenile delinquency.
On the other hand, ABAB vice president Nifras said the tournament will be barangay-based with the 61 barangays grouped into 6 clusters.
Schedule of the elimination bouts will be announced next week, Nifras said.*
