The Games and Amusement Board implemented new rules for professional boxing starting July 1 as agreed upon during the Philippine Boxing Convention last April 23 at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.
“Well, it’s a good change. At least the GAB is now adopting the international rules,” said ALA Boys manager Antonio L. Aldeguer. “I hope they will continue to improve.”
Aldeguer hosted a thanksgiving dinner last Wednesday for Cebu sportswriters and everyone who have followed the careers of the ALA Boys through the PacLand forum.
The new GAB rules include the removal of the “saved-by-the-bell” rule even in the last round.
No saved-by-the-bell rule
“The bell will not save a boxer knocked down in any round. If a boxer is knocked down simultaneous with the bell in the last round and the referee will count to 10, the boxer loses by knockout. If a boxer stands up before the count of 10, the contest terminates at that stage,” the new rules state.
A boxer who intentionally headbutts will have two points deducted from his scorecard. An unintentional or accidental headbutt will still mean a point deduction.
The new rules also stipulate that stoppage due to cuts before the first half of every scheduled fight will be automatically declared a technical draw, while fights stopped in the second half will be judged according to the points earned prior to the stoppage of the fight.
“Before this rule, when a fight is stopped, say for example, in the seventh round, and the fighter cut is behind on points, he will automatically lose the fight by TKO. But now they (GAB) follow the international ruling, which is I believe will lift the quality of boxing in our country,” said Aldeguer.
Since July 1, boxers are required to have a mouthpiece in all fights. Without it, the fight will be cancelled. (
