Sports

PROFESSIONAL boxing is alive and well in the Philippines. The country currently has five Filipino world boxing  champions led by Senator Manny Pacquiao who owns the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt. The other Pinoys  are  WBA bantamweight king Nonito Donaire,  World Boxing Organization (WBO)  bantamweight interim champion  Johnriel Casimero, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight title-holder Jerwin Ancajas  and Pedro Taduran, who recently claimed the  vacant IBF mini flyweight throne after knocking out compatriot Samuel Salva in the fourth round three weeks ago.   According to Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra, there is a big possibility that more Filipinos can become world champions in the coming months because there are now  44 Pinoy fighters included in the  world rankings of the four  major world boxing organization: WBA, WBO, IBF and the World Boxing Council (WBC). “Kami sa GAB ay talagang tumutupad sa aming mandato na maproteksyunan ang ating mga fighters at sa isinulong nating programa, kabilang ang libreng medical exam  at maayos na rating system, nasisiguro natin ang kahandaan ng ating mga boksingero sa kanilang paglaban lalo na sa ibang bansa,” said Mitra who was recently appointed as  member of  the WBC Ratings Committee. Under Mitra, GAB has organized the  1st Philippine Professional Sports Summit at the  PICC last September 24-25. The event received trememdous response from the boxing community and the 12 other professional sports  under the supervision of GAB. “First time natin itong ginawa at nagpapasalamat ako sa suporta ng ating mga kaibigan na sina Senator Sonny Angara at Bong Go na silang nagpatibay para makakuha ng dagdag na pondo ang GAB para maisakatuparan ang ating mga programa,” Mitra said. “Nagpapasalamat naman po ako at nagkakaroon ng positibong resulta ang ginawa nating reporma.” Among the  issues in boxing tackled at the Pro Sports Summit are the unification of local and regional ring officials into one national organization; the strict adherance to the Code of Ethical Standards; the pre and post evaluation  of every boxing event; the proposed travel  tax exemption  for boxers; and the shorter rest period for boxers. The mandatory rest period shall be 30 days. Rest period for knocked out fighters are 45 days for “body punch” and 60 days for “head punch.” Among the world rated Pinoy fighters today who can get shots at the world crown are minimumweight  Robert Paradero (WBO), lightweight Edward Heno (IBF), flyweight Geimel Magramo (WBO), bantamweight  Michael Dasmarinas (IBF) and superbantam Marlon Tapales (WBO) who are all ranked No.1 contenders in their respective boxing organzations. Albert Pagara is No. 2 in the WBO super bantamweight division while Jeo Santisima is No. 6. Former champions Donnie Nietes and Vic Saludar are  ranked No. 4 in the WBC super flyweight and WBO minimum weight, respectively, while  Milan Melindo is  No. 9 in the WBC light flyweight division.