Former boxers, muay fighters based in Dubai to help Filipino boxers

By Pigeon Lobien

Former boxers and muay Thai fighters and trainers now based in Dubai will be sending help for Filipino pugilists and muay Thai fighters whose fights were canceled since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

Highland Boxing Promotions top honcho Brico Santig said that the former fighters will be giving six sacks of rice monthly starting on the last Saturday of July and every month after.

Santig, who is still in Dubai due to the lockdown in the United Arab Emirates after his ward’s KJ Natuplag fight, said former World Boxing Association PABA champion Jun Paderna has organized their own community pantry intended to help Filipino boxers, who has not fought since the pandemic struck in March last year.

The distribution will start in the Visayas and then will go to Mindanao then Luzon, Santig said of the plan of the former prizefighter from the Wacky Salud Stable whom he met while in Dubai.

The group that includes former Luzon Professional Boxing Association champion Junior Mendoza has pledged to help former boxing champions now that the monthly stipend given by the Singwangcha Foundation has stopped due to the pandemic.

“Because the support from the Singwangcha Foundation has stopped, the former boxers and trainers here have united to help their fellow boxers and muay Thai fighters,” added Santig.

More, a boxer they train from Liverpool, England, Paul Watson, has pledged to give a sack of rice monthly as well as Quezon Province-born Randy Navarro, who works as a contractor in Dubai, added Santig.

A sack of rice will also be given by Santig every month. Santig is expected to fly home Within this month once the restriction in the rich Middle East country has eased up.

UNITED FOR BOXERS. Former boxers and muay Thai practitioners now based in Dubai will be sending help to Filipino boxers and muay Thai fighters whose fights were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Here Highland Boxing Gym’s Brico Santig, second left, poses with from left: Tony Jaro, Santig, Jun Paderna, Ricky Sismundo, JR Mendoza, Buyagan, La Trinidad native Venice Dangley, and Erwin Neri during a meeting in Dubai.