Philippines, 02 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ABAP Grassroots Program Targetting 2032 Brisbane Olympics -- Abnett


PhilBoxing.com





You don't fix what ain't broke.

That seems to be what ABAP consultant Don Abnett is saying in a recent radio interview as the ABAP, he said, is reviving its grassroots development program next year with an eye on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

This means ABAP will again be relying on its current elite national pool of boxers which had delivered five medals in the last two Olympics for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, assuming boxing will be retained as a regular event.

Which makes sense as the secret of continued success of top Olympics boxing countries, as Cuba and Uzbekistan, has been their ability to reuse their boxers who did very well in their previous stints.

Uzbekistan returned previous gold medalists flyweight Hassanboy Dusmatov and super heavyweight BakhodirJalolov, both pros, to anchor a five gold medal harvest. Cuba just had a gold thru lightweight Erislandy Alvarez and a bronze by Arlen Lopez who was unseated at light heavyweight by a former Marcial middleweight rival, after failing to return Tokyo gold medalists heavyweight Julio La Cruz and lightweight Andy Cruz.

Cuba was constrained in the Paris Olympics by the sudden change in the boxing divisions and the decision of certain top boxers to turn pro and concentrate on being such. That was almost like our problem except that it was more the change in weight classification as what hounded Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial, diminishing their chances for podium finish as they did three years before in Tokyo.

According to Abnett, there is a chance that Paalam's and Marcial's former weight divisions may be reinstated in the LA Games should boxing is retained as Olympic event improving their odds for another medal finish should the two again qualify.

Abnett said due to the shorter preparation between the two previous Olympics, ABAP was constrained to rely in Paris on its elite pool of fighters and delay its grassroots development program.

But notwithstanding a revitalized national development program, the possibility is high that Paalam, and Marcial will once again lead the national team to compete in Los Angeles. Paalam and Marcial will only be in their early 30s by the next Olympics which could make them still viable with better maturity and richer experience.

However Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegaa will be in their mid 30s. This is where the younger members of the national pool will have to step up.

The current 45-members national pool has enough to produce potential qualifiers and medalists for the LA Olympics but the planned grassroot program is still needed not only to discover and develop new talents to replenish the pool and ready the country for the Bisbane 2032 Olympics and major international boxing tournaments to come.

It took us more than five years to develop the likes of Petecio, Marcial, Paalam and Villegas into what they are now.

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.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Rise of the Samurai: Inoue vs Nakatani in 2026
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight prospect Tommy Hyde a true Irish Road Warrior In Australia for April 11th fight
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Melvin the Avenger
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • WORLD-RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA IN MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 6
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Shines on Day One for Team USA in World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Tellez Sisters Reina and Gabriela Sign with Boxlab Promotions
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Arena Grand Master Mohamad Sacar sweeps 1st Vientiane Open FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Anthony “ATV” Velazquez Ready to bust out of New England
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS VS. STANIONIS – ‘MAKE THE DAYS COUNT’ PREMIERES NOW
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • “THE FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO CANASTOTA FOR 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Tokyo Olympian Rashida Ellis signs long term management contract with Trifon Petrov
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Fightbook Adds Brendan Gibbons to Lead Athlete & Fan Activation Strategy
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOXLAB PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR ACTION-PACKED FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Lope Tenorio: El Bulakeño Matón (The Bulacan Brawler)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Luka Doncic's Shock Factor for LAL Dissipating? Dallas Mavs Getting Playoff Bid Boost From AD
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem Easily Repeats Over Shigeoka, Spoils A Huge Boxing Weekend for Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE
    , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • IIEE GenX 3-peat, SAEP Millennial Champ in PTC WED Basketball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem dominates Shigeoka in rematch, retains WBC World title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • AND STILL! WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA RETAINS WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY AGAINST TEVIN "2X" FARMER
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • A Second Coat of Paint: Mikaela Mayer Defeats Sandy Ryan in Action-Packed Rematch
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Cartel, 5 others share lead after Day 1 of 6th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem, Shigeoka successfully make weight for their WBC World Title rematch
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Rematches Rule the Day with Zepeda/Farmer & Mayer/Ryan on ESPN and DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 29 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.