MANILA, Philippines?There?s actually no reason to worry how Fil-Am boxer Julian Chua can come over to Manila to display his wares and, in the process, try out for the national boxing team in this year?s Asian Games.
United States-based boxing expert Hermie Rivera, behind the plan to ship over the 18-year-old boxer, said the MVP Cup, set to open July 14, can be a perfect testing ground for Chua.
But Rivera, entrusted the direction and management of Chua?s career, continues to wonder how Chua can come over.
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Begged Rivera: ?I hope the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) gives him a chance to prove himself.?
Well, Hammering Hermie must?ve forgotten what was promised him.
Or the busy fellow could be too engrossed in his masterpiece, a no-holds-barred bio of Manny Pacquiao.
If Rivera bothers to take a brief break and reviews past communication, he would find there an assurance from Abap executive director Ed Picson.
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This vow to provide Chua, winner in the Indiana Golden Gloves championship last year, round-trip plane fare, together with board and lodging, was contained in one previous column by this deadline-beater.
?If he likes, he can take along somebody, maybe his mother, with him,? Picson assured.
Picson, now in Guiyang, China, overseeing the stint of the RP boxing team, has also been waiting to hear from Hermie.
?Chua?s projected trip to Manila has the blessings of the entire Abap board,? Picson said.
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Said Rivera in an e-mail sent earlier this week: ?I heard about the MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) Cup. Maybe that could be Julian?s coming-out party. It would be a good test for Julian and his debut in the Philippines.?
It?s a deal, brod.
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, let me assure you that the Abap, with the approval of its president Ricky Vargas, is just waiting for official communication before they start finalizing Chua?s trip.
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We?ve seen the 5-foot-9 Chua on video and can assure that he packs great promise.
He has an educated right straight and a fearsome left cross that could lead him far out in the international ring.
There is also this scheduled stint at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where Chua could hopefully be fine-tuned by the great Freddie Roach.
So it?s as good as go for Chua from the Manila end.
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Of course, Ed Picson may have no choice but to invite foreign amateur boxers, maybe from both South Korea and Thailand, to the MVP Cup in July.
That?s if they hope to truly test Chua?s exact worth.
As things stand, Chua, who may compete internationally in the welterweight or super welterweight division, could end up partying on top of the Manila ring.
So far, there?s nobody in the Abap stable of fighters who could push Chua to the limit.
They need to squeeze the best?and worst?from this Rivera boxing dreamboat in order to make the all-expense paid trip worth it.
