FOR winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) International mini-flyweight title, Gabriel “Bon Bon” Pumar will receive the biggest cash incentive handed out by a local government unit.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo “Boy” Radaza told Pumar’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud that the city will give the youthful puncher P300,000 for giving honor to the city.
“I want to encourage the sports enthusiasts of Lapu-Lapu City to excel in sports by giving this amount to Pumar,” said Radaza.
The incentive is even bigger than the prize money he received when he knocked out in the seventh round South African champion Tshepo Lefele last Saturday at the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Pumar’s purse is only $3,000 or about P150,000.
Mayor Radaza took time from his busy Sunday schedule to join a troop of Barangay Iba, Lapu-Lapu City residents, who met Pumar at the airport yesterday noon.
Kadaugan sa Mactan
They then proceeded to join Salud and Pumar for lunch at Anton’s, where the press conference was held.
“Pumar gave honor to our city and in return for his hard work and dedication we will also honor and reward him during the Kadaugan sa Mactan celebration on April 26 or 27,” Radaza said.
Pumar accomplished what other Lapu-Lapu City boxers failed to do by winning an international title in the hometown of his opponent.
“I just gave my best because I have dreamed of becoming a great champion one day. And when the opportunity knocked, I was ready to win it,” said Pumar.
The 25-year-old Lefele was undefeated after 13 straight fights, with seven knockouts, before he faced the relatively inexperienced Pumar.
Lefele earlier won the vacant title relinquished by Filipino Armand de la Cruz, after scoring a majority decision over Mandaue City’s Elmer Gejon in June last year.
However, he lost the title in just his first title defense to Pumar – a boxer who is six years his junior, and not even rated as a top contender by the Games and Amusement Board.
Ranking
“Pumar has only fought for 10 rounds twice. That is why we were not able to get him into the Philippine rankings. But here came a big opportunity that would automatically rank him in the top 15 of the WBC,” Salud said.
Pumar is expected to take the place of Lefele in next month’s release of the rankings as the No.12 contender for the WBC title.
