Ni: PNA

250 boxing promoters, managers at matchmakers, kinondena ang GAB.

NAGSAMA-SAMA ang lahat ng local na boxing promoter at manager upang hilingin sa Games and Amusement Board (GAB) na ibasura ang naunang regulasyon na nagbabawal sa local fighters na lumaban sa abroad kung hindi nakapanalo ng dalawa sa huling tatlong laro.

Batay sa naturang panuntunan ng boxing regulatory body, kabuuang 62 fighters ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan at pagkakataon na makakuha ng ranking points sa abroad kung hindi mapapalaban sa mas malaking boxing promotions.

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Kabilang ang rated boxers na apektado sa naturang kautusan ng GAB tulad sina Philippine featherweight champion Randy “The Master” Braga (lost-win-lost), Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) lightweight champion Rosekie “Kapre” Cristobal (win-lost-lost), Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) flyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (win-lost-lost), at dating WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar “Terminator” Metuda (win-lost-lost).

“We have formally written a letter requesting the GAB to reconsider the 2-of-3 rule for the boxers to fight abroad,”pahayag ng international promoter-manager-matchmaker na si Brico Santig ng La Trinidad, Benguet.

Ayon kay Santig, ang letter na inihatid nila sa GAB main office sa Makati ay pirmado ng 250 boxing promoters, managers, matchmakers, trainers at professional boxers sa buong Pilipinas.

Kabilang sa humiling ng pagbabago sa regulasyon ang mga batikang international promoter na sina Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. ng Parañaque, Jim Claude Mananquil, Dexter Tan, at Art Advincula ng General Santos City; Dino Olivetti ng Biñan, Juan Monis ng Valenzuela, Jun Gandez ng Batangas, Jennifer Javellana ng Iloilo, Wowie Lalanto ng Cagayan de Oro, Troy Agustin Jr. ng Tarlac, at Joven Jimenez ng Cavite.

“We would like to inform GAB that we are now deeply affected by 2-of-3 Rule,” anila.

Iginiit ng grupo na “the Philippine ratings of the 64 boxers are useless because they still cannot fight abroad and so they lost their opportunity to earn money or become an international or world champion. To cite an example, the loss-loss-win card in the last three fights which is within the 2-out-of-loss and maybe given a chance to fight for a regional or even world championship by a governing body for sport. It really depends. In such case, since the 2-of-3 rule is in effect, we have thrown away the big opportunity for Filipino boxers,” ayon sa pahayag ng grupo.

“In the world bodies of boxing, the top 15 rated boxers are qualified to fight for the world, international or regional championship belts. They don’t use the 2-of-3 Rule and only needed rated boxers to qualify to fight,” anila.

Iginiit ng grupo sa GAB na maging masigasig ito sa pagsawata sa mga ‘mismatch’ at pekeng promoter at hindi ang pagbabawal sa mga lehitimong fighters na matupad ang pangarap na world championship.

“If the record of the boxer, who is being invited to fight overseas, looks inferior, maybe your committee on the matter may evaluate the opponent of the boxer. There are many ways to see if the fight is not lopsided,” pahayag ng grupo.

Hiniling din nila sa GAB na bigyan ng pansin ang katayuan ng mga babaeng fighters na patuloy na nababawasan ang bilang dahil sa hindi pantay na pagtingin ng ilang promosyon.

“As long as it is not mismatch, we believe the Filipina fighters should be allowed to fight abroad, regardless of their records, as long as they pass all the medical clearances and that the bout is not a mismatch,” ayon sa sulat.

Inaasahan ng grupo na tutugunan ni GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra angkanilang kahilingan bunsod na rin sa maayos na pagpapatakbo niya sa ginanap na Boxing Convention sa Davao City kamakailan kung saan napagtuunan ng pansin ang pagpapalawig sa mga lisensiya at pagbibigay ng libreng medical at CT scan para sa professional boxers.