Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim said yesterday lightflyweight boxer Harry Ta?amor?s early exit in the Beijing Olympics should trigger a call for a back-to-basics grassroots program to involve a nationwide search for fresh blood in revamping the national pool.
Lim, whose recent campaign to find promising Bohol simonpures has unveiled at least 10 prospects, said he is now concentrating on amateur boxing after supporting the professional careers of his provincemates Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and A. J. Banal.
?We should consider failure as part of our success in the future,? said Lim. ?It?s time we move forward but the solution is not to change the leadership in the ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines). If we don?t change our system of training and recruitment, we will continue to fail even with a new leadership.?
Lim suggested the formation of an ad-hoc committee to advise ABAP president Manny Lopez on how to prepare for the next Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics.
?There is clearly a need to overhaul our program,? he went on. ?We should encourage LGUs (local government units) to look for young outstanding boxers. I don?t believe we are lacking in material. What we need is to set the stage for talents to be discovered. We should hold quarterly tournaments and bring boxing to the backyards of our barangays. We?re not just talking of national tournaments but also provincial and regional tournaments to flush out our best prospects.?
Lim said amateur boxing must harness the resources of individuals like Rep. Tony Boy Floirendo, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol and Rep. Monico Puentevella to gain access to talent in the grassroots.
?Let?s leave professional boxing to Manny Pacquiao, Wakee Salud and Tony Aldeguer,? said Lim. ?Amateur boxing needs a new breed of supporters, sponsors and benefactors.?
Lim said three of his teenaged discoveries are now training in Baguio with ABAP coaches.
?I am inspired by our Cuban coach (Dagoberto) Rojas whose forte is teaching the youth the basics of boxing,? he said. ?The PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) plans to send four boys to Cuba for training in September so things are in motion. One of my boys, Wilbert Libarnes who?s 17, is an early candidate for the 2012 Olympics. We?re looking for boys who are willing to sacrifice, who?ve got the attitude to work hard. We want boys who are prepared to fight for our country.?
Lim said Ta?amor?s struggle in Beijing was a lonely effort.
?It?s difficult to pin your hopes for an Olympic medal on just one man,? said Lim. ?The pressure is too much. It will be another two years before we can develop new Olympic-caliber boxers. Then we?ll train them for another two years to be ready for London in 2012.?
Lim said technology in boxing is undergoing rapid progress and the Philippines must keep in step with the times.
?We?ve got to modify the way we do things,? he said. ?Former boxers can?t just be turned into coaches. We need good technical coaches with a solid physical education background. Maybe, we can keep our former fighters and coaches as consultants. I foresee a transition period of two years before improvements become evident. What we can do right now is to clean up our national pool. If we have to start from scratch, let?s do it.?
Lim said Lopez should stay in the ABAP saddle because of his experience.
?Right now, we need Manny more than ever,? said Lim. ?He?s like a wounded tiger. He has the contacts with AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) and knows the ins and outs of the sport. He has sacrificed a lot for boxing. It?s not just in boxing where we?ve failed in the Olympics. It?s not timely to ask for anyone?s head. We should avoid being emotional and making knee-jerk decisions.?
As for judging in the Olympics, Lim said nobody expects perfect decisions. ?Crying won?t get us anywhere,? he said. ?Let?s just learn from our mistakes. The system of judging is a reality everyone must face. The key is to find fighters who are eager to win. If we don?t change our mindset, we?ll just end up complaining we were robbed and insisting our body punches weren?t counted.?
Lim said if it?s time to go, Lopez himself will make the call. The ABAP will hold elections next month.
Before the Olympics, Lopez said he will not be a source of disunity. ?I?m not clinging to my position for dear life,? he said. ?I, too, want reforms – 100 percent, including reforms in the leadership. Personally, I?m tired of the politics in sports. I?m hoping to spend more time with my wife and daughters and more time for our family business.?
