CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE – World-renowned boxing referee Bruce McTavish and his group are eyeing Clark as the country’s next boxing capital, an official of the Clark Development Corp. said.
CDC public relations manager Angelo C. Lopez Jr. said McTavish’s group is now looking for an area here to construct a boxing arena, which will serve as a training facility and venue for national and international matches.
Earlier, Lopez and other CDC officials received reports that boxing aficionados wish to make the CSEZ the boxing mecca in the country.
“Clark is the best area for training amateur and potential boxers because of the serenity of the economic zone,” McTavish told Lopez.
McTavish, an Angeles City-based international referee, said Clark is ecological-friendly, suitable for rigorous trainings. McTavish is the husband of former Clark Investors and Locators Association chairman Carmen Tayag-McTavish.
He added that boxing is one sport where Filipinos could excel especially, if there are venues for proper training and better trainers.
Lopez said one of CDC’s thrusts is to make Clark one of the country’s sports-tourism destination to attract more local and foreign visitors.
“Since Filipinos love sports, boxing events in Clark would definitely be a crowd drawer,” Lopez said.
He said the success of Manny Pacquiao is “instrumental in the renewed interest of the Filipinos on the sports as more athletes, especially in Pampanga, are aiming to become world-class boxers similar to what Pacquiao has achieved.”
Angeles City Sports Coordinator Nilo H. Pineda said that the city is also planning to train and develop potential boxers.
“We have to scout and tap athletes from the grassroots level and give them the support they need,” he said. Joey Aguilar
