GAB TO AWARD OUTSTANDING BOXERS, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN DAVAO CONFAB

THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) will be awarding the country’s outstanding boxers and other stakeholders in the coming 3rd Philippine Boxing Convention on May 11 to 13 in Davao City.
“The GAB has drawn a list of awardees from nominations by all stakeholders nationwide. The list underwent intensive vetting process. Kinilatis po sila ng kanilang mga kasamahan at mga naging kakompetensiya nila,” said Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra.
Among the awardees are current IBF world light flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, former world champion Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales, former IBF world flyweight king Johnriel Casimero, and WIBA world minimumweight world champion Gretchen Abaniel as “Boxers of the Year”
“Breaking tradition for the better, the Games and Amusements board (GAB) shall recognize outstanding achievements in all aspects of boxing. Promoters, matchmakers, managers, trainers and referees shall receive awards alongside our champion boxers,” said Mitra.
“We designed this convention to be as inclusive as possible,” said Mitra.
The 3-day event will comprise of different seminars to be conducted by GAB’s Medical Officers, Dr. Radentor R. Viernes and Dr. Jose Rolando S. Rivera, GAB Legal Division Chief Atty. Ermar U. Benitez, WBC Ring Officials Chairman Hubert P. Minn, and International Referee Tony Weeks.
Expected to attend are boxing stakeholders from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“The great interest and big number of attendees prove boxing has more glory days ahead. And, in the journey to those glory days, the GAB will be its close ally,” Mitra explained.
This convention will once again bring together our friends and stakeholders in the field of professional boxing from all over the Philippines, who we consider our partners in developing and uplifting the interest of the sport of professional boxing in the Philippines. The great interest and big number of attendees prove boxing has more glory days ahead. And, in the journey to those glory days, the GAB will be its close ally,” Mitra explained.
There will also be a boxing card with 13 bouts including three championship fights on May 12 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel.
Seeing action are Jake Bornea and Renerio Arizala for WBF Intercontinental Super Flyweight Championship, Ryan “Fire Fist” Lumacad and Renold Pael for the ABF Super Flyweight Championship, and Roskie “Kapre” Cristobal and Alvin Makiling for PBF Bantamweight Championship, among others.
The GAB has drawn a list of awardees from nominations by all stakeholders nationwide. The list underwent intensive vetting process. Kinilatis po sila ng kanilang mga kasamahan at mga naging kakompetensiya nila,” said Chairman Mitra.
Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions will be awarded as the International Boxing Promoter of the Year while the Boxing Promoters of the Year are Gabriel Elorde Jr., Juan Lope Elorde, Dexter Tan and Arnold Palafox.
Brico Santig of Highland Promotions and Jim Claude Manangquil of Sanman Promotions are the Most Accomplished Boxing Manager of the Year.
The most promising boxing promoter is Angel dela Merced while Artemio Monis is the boxing matchmaker of the year.
The boxing trainer of the year are Jhun Agrabio and Fernando Ocon.
The Excellence Awards will be given to WBO World welterweight champion Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao and IBF world flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes while veteran international referee Bruce Mactavish will earn the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Citations will be given to OPBF president Juan Ramon Guanzon, WBC Ring Officials Chairman Hubert Minn of Hawaii, international referee Tony Weeks of Las Vegas, boxing philanthropist Naris Singwangcha of Thailand, United International Boxing Promotions president Ryuta Kato of Japan, Philippine Boxing Federation president Lope Sarreal Jr.,Philippine Managers and Promoters Association president Dante Almario, boxing matriarch Mrs. Ma. Laura Elorde, Professional Boxing Officials of Cebu and Ass’n. Of Phil. Professional Boxing Ring Officials (APPBRO).