Boxer beneficiaries get more from Thai

By Pigeon Lobien

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Local boxing promoter Brico Santig said the 270,000 bahts from Thai philanthropist Naris Singwangcha is ready for release which would mean that each of the former world champions beneficiaries will receive more than Php 36,000 or equivalent to 12 months of stipend instead of the 10 months he earlier promised.

“Each will be getting something like PhP36,602 each or more than 12 months, instead of the eight months late and for this month or a total of nine months,” said Brico Santig as he awaits instructions from the Games Amusement Board on when it will need the money for distribution.

“I am still awaiting instructions from the GAB which will also schedule the date of release of the money,” Santig said.

Converted to peso, the money sent by Singwangcha would be around PhP402,622 which the GAB should now divide equally among the 11 former prizefighters.

Singwangcha promised earlier to give 10 months’ worth of stipend for his final effort. This he said after he was late for eight months in delivering the monthly stipend of PhP3,000 each due to the Covid-19 pandemic that affected his business in Bangkok, Thailand.

This resulted in the GAB getting the flak after one of the boxer-beneficiaries complained on television and called on Sen. Manny Pacquiao to intervene in releasing their monthly “pension”.

Singwangcha sent the money to Santig’s wife in Bangkok, who in turn sent the 270,000 bahts to the local boxing promoter who flew to Dubai, United Arab Emirates Monday to see one of his boxers fight there.

Singwangcha hopes the retired boxers put to good use the money he just gave, according to Santig, the last coming from him as he terminated the memorandum of agreement he entered with GAB in 2018.

GAB, on the other hand, last week forwarded a resolution terminating the MOA for Singwangcha to give the monthly financial aids to 20 former world champions, however, only 11 were able to avail of it.

Meanwhile, local pride KJ Natuplag moves closer to a possible world title as he goes up against an unbeaten prizefighter from Afghanistan this Saturday at the Hilton Dubai al Habtoor City in the United Arab Emirates.

One of the undercards in the World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title fight between local Rolly Lambert Fogoum (10 wins, 1 knock out, 1 draw) and Mada Maugo of Tanzania, Natuplag will face Hasibullah Ahmadi (11-0-4 knockouts) in the undercard of a featherweight eight-round match.

Ahmadi has won his last three fights all in last year via technical knockout, according to BoxRec.

Natuplag, a Benguet State University alum is the former Asian Boxing Federation champion but comes off two straight defeats in 12 fights that include eight wins against two draws.

“He (Natuplag) has been preparing the past two months for this fight,” said Highland Boxing Promotion top honcho Brico Santig, who flew to the UAE capital Monday.

Natuplag last fought on November 2, 2019, when he lost to Mikito Nakamo, five months after falling to Joe Tejones, who last May lost to Ifugao pride Carl Jammes Martin.

Natuplag is supposed to fight on July 3 at the Elorde Gym in Sucat, Paranaque against Jun Estrada, but Santig replaced him with Rex Wa-o as the fight is too soon with his Dubai encounter.

“It is too soon, so I have him replaced by Wa-o in the July 3 fight versus Estrada,” said Santig.

READY TO FIGHT. KJ Natuplag, middle, will fight this Saturday, June 5, in Dubai against an unbeaten Afghan in the undercard of the World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title fight. Also in the photo are boxing trainer Rey Dulay, Rex Wao, Kj Natuplag, Ador Torres, and retired Benguet State University vice president and Highland adviser Silvester Aben. Photo from Brico Santig’s Facebook