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Philippines, 19 May 2024 |
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PH Pro Boxing Keeps on Punching Amid Covid Pandemic Restrictions By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 Sep 2021  Local professional boxing not only survived the initial onslaught of the still raging COVID-19 pandemic but even kept on punching beginning with its return to activity in October 2020 amid the restraints and constraints in combating the global health crisis. This was bared by boxing promoters, trainers and ring officials who served as resource speakers yesterday in the 3rd Annual Professional Sports Summit organized and held virtually for the second time by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). Led by GAB Chairman Abraham Khalil Mitra and hosted by par excellence sports commentator Joaquin "Quinito" Henson, the one-day Summit reviewed the performance and progress in pro boxing and other professional sports under the regulation of the government through GAB. Resource persons for pro boxing included promoters Brico Santig of the Highland Boxing Promotions, JC Manangquil of Sanman Boxing Promotions and Charlemagne Marban III of the Marban Boxing Promotions; Alberto “Brembot” Dulalas, President of the Mindanao Pro Boxing Officials Association, Romulo Marlou J. Neri – Boxing Judge/Ring Announcer (Mindanao), Atty. Danrex Tapdasan, president of the Association of Philippine Boxing Ring Officials and Nicolas Banal, secretary of Pro Boxing Ring Officials (Visayas). From zero when pro boxing bouts in the country was suspended in April 2020 until it was allowed to conditionally resume six months later, some twenty local boxing promotions have already been staged mostly in the South (Visayas-Mindanao) largely through the initiatives and efforts of promoters as John Claude Manangquil and the Omega Pro Boxing Promotions. These included two for the world titles held on February 20, 2021 in Binan, Laguna where Vic Saludar beat Robert Paradero by split decision in an All-Filipino fight organized by promoter Bebot Elorde for the vacant WBA regular minimumweight title and a week later, on February 28, 2021 in General Santos City where Rene Cuarto wrested the IBF minimumweight crown from Pedro Taduran via unanimous decision. There have also been fights that featured world class or rated Filipino fighters as Marlon Tapales, Genesis Libranza, Arthur Villanueva, Mark Anthony Barriga, Vincent Astrolabio and Carl Jammes Martin. Though pro boxing has yet to make a comeback in Metro Manila, there are indicators that it will happen once the NCR achieves a more favorable level in the fight against the viral epidemic which would allow for greater mobility and controlled mass gathering and lesser quarantine restrictions, it was revealed during the event. While boxing still largely muddled through locally, Filipino fighters made breakthroughs internationally with the likes of Johnriel Casimero, Nonito Donaire, Reymart Gaballo and Mike Plania experiencing unprecedented success at bantamweight, Jerwin Ancajas still reigning among the champions at super flyweight and Donnie Nietes essaying a successful comeback in the same division and Mark Magsayo making his mark at featherweight. Record success was also achieved in amateur boxing with Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam bagging silver, and Eumir Felix Marcial bringing home bronze, medals from the reset 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The only low point, if ever that can be said as such, was the loss on points to Cuban interloper Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight super world title earlier unceremoniously stripped off him by the surefire Hall of Famer and all time great Manny Pacquiao who also officially announced his retirement from boxing yesterday. Photo (L-R): Johnriel Casimero, Nonito Donaire Jnr and Reymart Gaballo rule the bantamweight division. 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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