Despite the uncertainty of boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, some of the sport’s foremost figures could not help but cite chinks on the armor of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), the group that runs the affairs of amateur boxing in the country.
“The members of the national pool are not really the best fighters in the country,” veteran trainer Nonoy Neri told DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday from his homebase in Davao City.
Neri, a vital part of Manny Pacquiao’s training team, swears that there are talents in the provinces that are waiting to be discovered.
“Here in Davao, in General Santos City, in Digos and in the whole of Mindanao, there are lots of talented young boxers. Many of them come to me for help, many of them wanting to turn professional,” Neri said.
“The problem is that nobody from the ABAP is coming over to check on the amateur programs here. The events being held here are mostly local tournaments,” he added.
Neri’s claims seem to hold water. In Cebu, where boxing is a religion, two-time world title challenger Edito “Ala” Villamor echoed Neri’s observations.
“We stage tournaments using our personal funds and help from sponsors. Here in Cebu, there are lots of very promising boxers who are waiting to be discovered. But how can they be discovered if there are no tournaments to take part in?”
Villamor honed his skills during the time of Cebu’s premier amateur boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, whose assembly line produced the likes of world champions Gerry Penalosa, Malcolm Tunacao, Joma Gamboa, Rodel Mayol and Melvin Jerusalem.
“I remember during the 1980s, Cebu fielded four teams in the nationals,” Villamor recalled with fondness.
Villamor and company actually were being geared by Aldeguer for the amateurs but a sad incident in 1988 at the Quirino Grandstand forced Aldeguer to abandon the amateurs and enter the pros.
In one of the final bouts, Penalosa was beaten on a controversial decision by Charlie Balena.
“A riot nearly erupted,” Villamor said.
Penalosa, with tears in his eyes, threw a stool into the ring in protest for what was deemed a bum decision.
