AKSIYON AGAD!

Ni Edwin Rollon

UMAPELA ang Games and Amusements Board (GAB) sa naging desisyon ng World Boxing Association (WBA) at kagyat na hiniling na ibalik kay eight-division world champion Senator Manny Pacquiao ang WBA Welterweight Championship belt na napagwagihan laban kay Keith Thurman noong 2019 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sa sulat ni GAB Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra kay WBA president Mr. Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, hiningi ng GAB ang klarong basehan para bawian ng championship belt ang boxing icon.

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Kamakailan, ipinahayag ng WBA ang pagbawi sa titulo ni Pacquiao bunsod umano ng ‘inactivity in the boxing ring’. Sa desisyon ng WBA’s Championships Committee, pinalitan si Pacquiao ni Cuban boxer Yordenus Ugas bilang WBA Welterweight Super Champion.

“With GAB being the professional sports governing body in the Philippines, and with due respect to the WBA, may we be enlightened as to the grounds, why Mr. Pacquiao was stripped from his title? One of our mandates is to look after the overall welfare of our Professional boxer-licensees, one of whom is Mr. Pacquiao,” pahayag ni Mitra.

Tinukoy ni Mitra ang Rule C.22 ng WBA na nagsasabing, “When a World Champion is unable to defend his title within the prescribed time periods for justifiable medical, legal, or other reasons reasonably beyond his control, the inactive champion may be named a Champion in Recess and the Committee may select official contenders who will fight for an Interim Title under Rules C.22- 24.”

“Likewise, WBA Rule C.23 states that: “Return of Champion in Recess. When a Champion in Recess returns after having overcome to the satisfaction of the Championships Chairman whatever obstacle that caused his inactivity, the Association may order a title bout between the Champion in Recess and the Interim Champion, if one exists, or against another boxer designated by the Committee. If the Champion in Recess is returning from a medical recess, the Chairman may consult with the Medical Committee Chairman and may require the boxer to provide documentation and undergo an examination before he is allowed to return. A Champion in Recess cannot defend his title as Champion in Recess, and may lose his status if he boxes anyone other than the Interim Champion.”

“We would like to help the 8-division champion to return from being Champion in Recess to Full Champion. From the WBA Championship Rules above, we would like to ask, on behalf of Mr. Manny Pacquiao, who he may have to fight next, under the Rules, and what particular documentation he must have to comply with as WBA requirements, to regain his title, in case he opts to.

“We are studying the WBA Rules and we want to assist our good Senator who may have to fight next. Also, we want to know from our partners in the WBA what particular documentation that we must have to comply with as WBA requirements, to regain the WBA belt, in case our Pinoy boxing champ opts to,” pahayag ni Mitra.