TAGUMPAY ng professional boxing laban sa COVID-19 pandemic.
Ganito ang paglalarawan ni Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra sa matagumpay na pagdaraos ng 4-card fight ng Omega Boxing Promotions nitong Miyerkoles sa International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) Compound sa Tingub, Mandaue City.
“This professional boxing promotion has signaled the return of pro boxing industry in the Philippines as part of the new normal during this period of covid-19 pandemic,” pahayag ni Mitra.
“GAB appreciates the hard work of Omega Sports Promotion and Omega Boxing Gym for initiating it and by serving as a prototype for other pro boxing promotions to come,” aniya.
BALITAnaw: Ang dalawang babaeng naging pangulo ng Pilipinas
Naisagawa ang pagbabalik ng pro boxing matapos ang pitong buwang pagkaantala nang payagan ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), ang rekomendasyon na nakapaloob sa Joint Administrative Order (JAO) na binuo ng GAB, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at Department of Health (DOH).
“The promotion followed the JAO and the GAB Health Protocols in conducting the first ever pro boxing game in the country. Boxers and ring officials were subjected to isolation just like in a bubble for 14 days before the fight and swab testing and rapid tests,” pahayag ni Mitra.
“Strict health protocols were implemented in the weigh in and during actual fight day. The safety officers of the boxing promotion had monitored daily the health conditions of the boxers and ring officials in coordination with GAB.
“During the event, safety officers made sure that wearing of required PPEs such as face mask, face shield and gloves, if necessary and social distancing are strictly observed,” aniya.
Naitala ni World Boxing Association (WBA)-South light flyweight champion Ronnie Vecilles ang 4th round knockout win kontra Junuel Lacar ng Baguio City sa isa sa tatlong 6-rounder na salpukan. Nagwagi rin ang stablemate niya sa Omega na sina Christian Araneta, Penitente Apolinar at Carlo Bacaro.
Nakuha ni Araneta, dating WBC Asia silver champion sa light flyweight division, ang unanimous decision kontra Richard Rosales ng Bohol, habang nagwagi sa parehong desisyon si Apolinar kontra Jetro Pabustan ng Cagayan de Oro City.
Nailista naman ni Carlo Bacaro ang technical knockout win kontra Cebuano Jeff Stella sa welterweight match. “After everything we went through – from conception to implementation – we finally have done and dusted it. Hopefully sa December maulit namin ito,” pahayag ni Omega Boxing Promotions vice president Jerome Calatrava.
-Edwin Rollon
