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Now this is the Philippine Games & Amusements Board! By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Tue, 22 Jan 2008 It is refreshing to learn of the Philippine Games & Amusements Board?s (GAB) timely intervention to protect IBF minimum weight champion Florante Condes. Florante is in a boxing career destroying quagmire not of his own making. His undeserved revolting predicament started to develop when his sacrifices won for himself and his country a much sought for world championship belt. Before Florante?s title fight, his supposed to be foreign based promoter promised to give him an additional amount to his meager purse. He likewise had an assigned foreign based trainer who really never trained him for the fight. These guys materialized in person only when Florante already won the IBF title. Had Florante failed to wrest the championship, I wonder if these said foreign based promoter and trainer would ever make contacts with Florante again. They did long after the fight took place. Florante reportedly received the promised additional amount less the promoter?s share and the trainer?s fee for the training that never was. Under the competent leadership of Chairman Eric Buhain, GAB?s saving intercession assures that Florante?s career will re-flourish as before expected. I was able to personally confirm this positive development with GAB Commissioner Angel P. Bautista. This shows that GAB cares. This is the Philippine Games & Amusements Board today. If GAB?s previous acts of concern for Filipino boxers were hazy to most, this particular positive action on Florante?s case should make clear that GAB has concern for licensed fighters. This writer learned lately that the GAB boxing division, under Dr. Nasser Cruz, has a team to meet at the airport even a homecoming fighter who had lost in a title bid abroad. The fighter who needs most the welcome and healing reassurance from his countrymen is the fighter who just failed to win a championship fight. Condes is not yet ready to fight his title defense as scheduled. It is reported that Florante suffered a shoulder injury in sparring with heavier fighters. I suspect his shoulder just gave in to the emotional weight he has been unfairly made to carry. Boxing is also a mental rather than only physical activity, if not much more. Be of good cheer Florante! You direly need people whom you can trust? Start with Chairman Buhain. WBC President Jose Solaiman shouted Eric?s able leadership to the 168 WBC member nations during the November 2007 WBC Convention at the Manila Hotel. GAB?s laudable action should contribute much to Florante?s preparation for a successful defense of his crown. The title was won with much sacrifice aggravated by the then brewing managerial confusion. It should be defended by all available lawful means foremost of which is Florante?s mental and physical readiness. Florante Condes made the country proud. The country should now protect IBF world minimum weight champion Florante Condes. With GAB?s sincere involvement for his first title defense in a foreign nation, Florante should be back to his being in tip-top ?Condes?-tion. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda. |
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