With a fresh four-year mandate following the national elections last May 31, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) gears up for participation in the international tournaments in the remaining months of 2013. The national boxers will take part in the world championships in Kazakhstan in October 11-27 and the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December 11-22.
To prepare for these two major competitions, Filipino boxers will join the China Open in the City of Guiyang on June 16-24. The team will be led by London Olympian light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga.
The other members of the boxing team are flyweight Ian Bautista, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, and lightweight Junel Cantancio for the men, and flyweight Josie Gabuco and bantamweight Nesty Petecio for the women.
?This is a tough tournament and this will be an opportunity to see where we are in our preparations,? said ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson as quoted by Nick Giongco of Manila Bulletin.
The boxers will be coached by Pat Gaspi, Ruel Velasco, and Elias Recaido.
“Don’t expect them to be in peak form, but they should be competitive. The China Open is a traditional tournament and strong countries will participate. It’s going to be a tough tournament but should be a good preparation for the World Championships and the SEAG,” Picson was further quoted by Josef Ramos of The Manila Times.
ABAP will also be sending boxers to the Asia Elite Championship in Amman, Jordan on June 30 – July 9.
Photo: Mark Anthony Barriga with the writer.
