Women fighters will soon enjoy equal opportunity status in the Philippines, and will most likely be allowed to don their professional boxing gloves if Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain’s plans materialize under his watch.
Buhain, in an interview, has revealed that plans are now under consideration to allow female professional boxing in the country following the headway made by the United States in allowing women fighters to campaign in the pro ranks.
“Ok yan with me. I had a discussion with promoters regarding that. It’s going to happen eventually. Might as well be ahead if ever it booms worldwide,” Buhain told this writer yesterday. Under his watch as Philippine Sports Commission chairperson, Buhain was also credited for starting women amateur boxing in the country.
Currently, the Games and Amusements Board charter does not allow women to take part in professional boxing, a fact that has been labeled by boxing pundits as “discriminatory unfair.”
“That’s why I am for it,” Buhain said unequivocably.
This recent development came even as this writer discovered that some of the more popular women fighters in the United States actually have Filipino roots in them.
Elena “Baby Doll” Reid, the world’s no. 1 flyweight, is half-Filipina. Reid, who sports a 16-1, 5 KO’s record, is set to face Alcia Ashley on March 26 in Laughlin, Nevada.
“Elena is young, beautiful, and exciting to watch fight. The filipino fight fans will LOVE her. I know eventually GAB will do the right thing. If they refuse to let women fight there, they could be called out on discrimination. Women have a right to fight,” said Ryan Wissow in an e-mail to this writer. Reid is half Filipino, her mom is from the Philippines. She is very entertaining and very promotable (good looking).” Another female fighter with a connection to the Philippines is the very popular Mia St John, who once graced the Playboy Magazine. “Many people do not know that Mia’s mom is Filipino (her dad is Mexican). Mia was on the cover of Playboy magazine several years ago, and became very famous for that. She also fought Christy Martin in a competitive 10 round fight,” the source said.
Another female fighter is Sarah Rama-Goodson, who hails from Guadalupe, Cebu. Then there’s “Dynamite” Dee Dufoe who was the first world-class pro female boxer from the Philippines. Known as the lean, mean Filipina, Dee was a favorite with fight fans. She is considering a comeback, and has also agreed to help organize future events in Manila.
“Elena Reid is a future superstar, Mia is a superstar right now! and Dee has some fame of her own. They are all willing to fight on your island, sometime in the near future,” Wissow stated.
