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VARGAS DETERMINED TO GO FOR OLYMPIC BOXING GOLD By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Tue, 20 Jul 2010  The president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines Ricky Vargas with the untinted support of chairman Manny Pangilinan whose commitment to Philippine sports is total, is determined to go for an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012 although he admits it?s a huge task with the caliber of opposition our fighters will face. Vargas took heart from the performance of the Philippine team that bagged the overall championships in the inaugural staging of the MVP International Invitational especially after the impressive victory of Charly Suarez over Athens 2004 silver medalist Worapoj Petchikoom 7-4 to win the gold medal. The superbly fit Suarez was busy all throughout the three rounds often tagging the Thai with combinations that scuttled the rhythm of the Olympic silver medalist even as Suarez showed he had no fear of the Thai or his reputation. Vargas told us ?if we can transplant that kind of attitude (of Suarez) and courage to all our fighters we?ll get our gold.? At the same time while he extolled the courage and fighting heart of Suarez as well as lightweight Joegin Ladon and welterweight Delfin Boholst who got the better of their fancied Thai opponents Apichat Kulsri and Apichet Saensit, Vargas said ?let?s not take away anything from our women boxers, ? all of whom won gold medals. Light flyweight Alice Kate Aparri beat China?s Shiqi Xu, veteran Annie Albania beat her longtime foe Peamwilai Laopeam featherweight Nesty Petecio won over Weng Lin Cheng of Chinese-Taipei and pin weight Josie Gabuco defeated another Taiwan fighter Tu Fen Weng to give the Filipino women a handsome sweep of the four gold medals at stake before a good crowd at the PICC tent. Vargas revealed that the ABAP has been offered a chance to host the world women?s championships in Manila and added ? we are really seriously thinking about it because it?s the easiest way to the Olympics. We hold it here and with our women boxers competing in their country we will probably be able to have a better chance in going to the Olympics,? through the qualifying tournament. The ABAP president at the same time disclosed plans of sending our boxers and coaches abroad for training as well as competing in a big meet in Finland. However, Vargas clarified that while they were supposed to go to the US in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, which would include workshops f or the Filipino coaches, ?we are re-thinking that because I am not sure whether that is really the right place for them to go. However, we pointed out to Vargas that there could be others who believe it would be best to have the fighters train with four-time ?Trainer of the Year? Freddie Roach who has reportedly agreed to help the Filipino boxers as well as the trainer who handled Oscar De La Hoya?s preparation for his Olympic gold medal victory in Los Angeles 1992 which we said ?would be something substantial.? Vargas who is quickly learning the nuances of boxing which was initially not within his sports passion which is centered around basketball, both collegiate and professional, noted that ?the boxing world has changed and the more I see it the more defense-oriented and sniping to score points which is what amateur boxing has become. So we?ll learn a little bit more on defense so we can become even better.? The ABAP president shared our opinion that our boxers have improved and attributed it to the fact that former Olympic bronze medalist Roel Velasco has been named head coach of the elite boxers. He described Velasco as ?a young, fantastic coach who excites the boxers and that?s what our boxers need. They need to get the courage, they need to get the confidence that a coach can give them as well as regular competition.? Worried that the Philippines would not win the championship especially after the first Filipino boxer ? light flyweight Victorio Saludar lost to China?s Zhongling Wu in a count-back after the fight ended an even 6-6 and flyweight Gerson Nietes was overwhelmed by classy Thai Olympian Amnaj Ruenroeng and bantamweight Glicerio Catolico III was beaten by another skilled Thai fighter Donchai Thatl, Vargas jokingly said ?I was about to go home so all I wanted was one gold, just beat the Thais once, but instead we beat them in three bouts so that?s good enough.? Vargas noted that Thailand sent its best team and he wanted to ?thank them for that, for giving us that competition.? Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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