GAB SETS PH BOXING CONFAB IN DAVAO CITY

GAB Chairman Baham Mitra (left) with Asia’s no. 1 boxing promoter Lui Gang from China during his recent

visit in Manila. (Photo by BRICO SANTIG)

THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) formally announced last Jan. 31 that the Philippine Boxing Convention will be held on May 11 to 13 in Davao City.

“Registration is free,” said GAB Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra in his message on Facebook.

The announcement was made during a meeting with boxing promoters, managers and ring officials at the GAB office in Makati.

“We’re still finalizing the activities in the convention,” said Mitra.

Among those to be included will be a seminar on officiating and judging and topics on medical.

GAB also announced that this year’s Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Convention will be held at Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

“It will also have a free registration,” bared Mitra.

OPBF is presently headed by its President Juan Ramon Guanzon, a former GAB Chairman from Bacolod City.

Last year’s OPBF Convention was held in Bacolod with no less than World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaiman as the guest of honor, who will be invited again this year.

Meanwhile, GAB has agreed with the newly-organized Philippine Promoters and Managers Association (PPMA) headed by its president Dante Almario to make an amendment on its General Rule on reducing the 45 days mandatory rest period of all boxers per rounds.

“Exception on the 45 days mandatory rest period (that it) may be reduced but not less than 30 days subject to presentation of CT scan and medical clearance and favorable recommendation of the GAB doctor,” said Mitra.