GAB CHAIRMAN MEETS JAPAN BOXING OFFICIALS IN TOKYO

Philippine Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra successful met with the officials of the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and Japan Professional Boxing Association (JPBA) today (April 5) in Tokyo, Japan.
Mitra had a meeting with JBC secretary general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, assistant secretary Hitoshi Watanabe, JBC officer Mitsuaki Togashi and promoter Takashi Misako, chief of the JPBA International Division (who represented JPBA president Hitoshi Watanabe.
Also present were matchmaker Warren Elliot and referee Yuji Fukuchi.
“The meeting was very cordial and they are very much willing to work with us. “(It was) very, very good” said Mitra said in his message in Facebook.
Mitra said the “main purpose of the meeting was for the mutual safety and welfare of the boxers.”
Among the topics tackled were the Medical Report Abroad (MRA), Japanese applying as professional boxers in the Philippines and the approval of fights.
“Just like Japanese boxers, all Filipino boxers are also required to bring back to the Philippines the pre-fight and post-fight report of MRA upon their return to the country,” said Mitra.
MRA should be accomplished by the assigned ring physicians specifying the result of the bout.
“New or comeback boxers applying for license in the Philippines should have a proper endorsement from JBC,” said Mitra.
GAB wants a memorandum of understanding about it with JBC.
Fight contracts stamped as “received” by GAB are shown to JBC and becomes the basis for approval. However, it does not automatically mean the fight is approved or that the boxer is allowed to fight abroad by GAB. Fights approved by the JBC is still subject for the GAB Board’s approval.
The meeting focused on the safety and medical requirements but eventually moved to other matters of cooperation.
“It seems they are impressed by the innovations we have put in place and very much informed,” said Mitra, who also informed them on the amendments in the Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines.
Mitra is confident that it will result to further closeness in working relations with Japan.
GAB will soon make a final report of its meeting with its Japanese counterpart.
“I am also glad that I’ve decided to meet them at their office even if am on a family vacation and on my personal expense,” said Mitra, who earlier watched the successful second title defense by Filipino Rene “Commander” Dacquel of Davao City who scored a split decision against Japanese challenger Shota Kawaguchi to retain his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight title last April 2 at the EDION Arena in Osaka. — LOLITO DELOS REYES