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Philippines, 18 May 2024 |
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WBC Seeks GAB Help to Fill up Vacant Int'l Titles By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Tue, 13 Apr 2021  GAB chairman Mitra. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has recently reached out to the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for assistance in staging bouts to fill up its vacant international titles at strawweight (minimumweight) and flyweight. In a letter to GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra, WBC international's Mauro Betti informed him of the existing vacancies in the said divisions and sought his assistance in looking for interested Filipino promoters to stage fights for the purpose of filling up the vacant international titles and helping fulfill the dream of Filipinos to fight for major titles under the WBC. "I would be very grateful if you could help me achieve a chance in your country," Betti who with Mitra is also a member of the WBC Board of Governors, said. The international title is one of the WBC's highest regional championships below world level and the WBC silver. Winners of the international belt are usually included in the organization's top 15 contenders list and are eligible to challenge the reigning world champion in optional defense. Chairman Mitra immediately posted the notice for any interested local promoters. Upon checking with the Wikipedia on WBC international titlists, it was discovered that there is a current holder at flyweight, a South African Jackson Chauke (19 (14KOs)-1-1) but it is possible he could have vacated the title. The WBC international titles at minimumweight and light flyweight are still vacant though. Liza Elorde confirmed of receiving email from GAB on the matter but said that "even if we are interested, with the pandemic its not possible to stage a fight at this moment. The sanction fees and payments to officials are also high plus no sponsors" Plus (the) requirement to quarantine the boxers and officials for 14 days at a venue at the promoters expense is another concern, Liza added. Holding the fights may be problematic especially in the so called NCR Plus which is still under modified extreme community quarantine, however it is still possible in other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao where boxing bouts including world title fights have been successfully staged recently under a so called "bubble". And since only Filipino fighters and their camps would be involved, the procedure may not be that complicated except from those WBC officials who may come from abroad. But as per recent experience, the task of overseeing the conduct of the fights could be delegated to their local counterparts. Of course, the sanction fees are another matter. But the general sentiment is we should take advantage of this opportunity. One reason why Betti could have chosen the Philippines is the glut of Filipino world class fighters in the said divisions, particularly in the minimumweight where there are about a dozen of top caliber Pinoy fighters. In the flyweight, we have highly rated Jason Mama who was reported to be chosen by no less than IBF champion Moruti Mthalane for a defense last December but their fight fell through for some reason. There is also Geimel Magramo whose WBO world title bid last year in Japan suffered because of the stringent travel as well as quarantine requirements in that country affecting his training and preparations. At minimumweight, albeit the fact that the new IBF champion is still a Filipino in Rene Cuarto and that ex WBO world titlist Vic Saludar has won a WBA interim belt, there is still a battery of promising, world level Filipino fighters waiting for their chance to improve further in their ratings and for the opportunity to fight for the world title. There's ex WBO titlist Pedro Taduran, OPBF titlist Lito Dante, Melvin Jerusalem, Robert Paradero, Samuel Salva, ArAr Andales, Mark Barriga and John Mark Rementizo. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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