Manny Pacquiao believes the state of amateur boxing in the country needs an overhaul.
?Meron din yatang pulitika dyan eh,? said Pacquiao yesterday on the eve of light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga?s preliminary bout.
Barriga is the Philippines lone hope in boxing, a sport that has made the country famous all over the world and the fact that the 5-foot Barriga is carrying the hopes of an entire nation, is a sign that something is amiss.
?Bakit sya lang mag-isa?? asked Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight different weight classes in the professional ranks.
Pacquiao said that while boxing is not a sport that is alien to Filipinos, he doesn?t understand why amateur boxing is horrendously lagging behind.
If not for sheer luck, the Philippines would have been left without a qualifier in boxing as Barriga actually made it via the backdoor after failing to advance to the semifinals in the world championships last year.
The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) had also batted for the inclusion of lightweight Charly Suarez but the International Amateur Boxing Association turned down the ABAP?s request.
Suarez placed second in the Olympic qualifying for Asia last April but the only spot was given to the first-placer, leaving the ABAP and the country with no other choice but to rally behind the pint-sized Barriga, who faces Italian Manuel Cappai in today?s preliminary.
If Barriga fails to make it to the medal podium, Pacquiao may decide to pool together a group of young boxers and place them under his wing in the hopes of helping put more qualifiers in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
