PBPMA URGES GAB TO ALLOW 4R BOXERS FOR FOREIGN FIGHTS

by Sharma Devaiah

Professional boxing is one of the worst-affected areas in the Sports Industry when the pandemic hit globally.

Filipino pugilists have been scheduled to await for the go-signal of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) 0ffice for them to be able to be included in a fight match locally and abroad. In lieu to this, the Philippine Boxing Promoters Association (PBPMA) appealed to the Philippine Games and Amusements Board to allow boxers with exemplary records of at least four wins to be allowed to fight for Regional Titles and fight abroad. Included in this appeal is to allow boxers who had one win in the 4,6,8 and 10 rounds be reviewed and be allowed to fight for the above-mentioned fights.

Also in the appeal is for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Ratings to be regulated along with the office of the GAB. This concern was acted upon by the PBPMA as some of the most qualified and rated boxers were either removed or moved down the ranking while some boxers with only a few records were included in the list. The PBPMA asserted that this is not fair to all boxers, promoters and managers alike since it affects mostly th fight matches and the chances of the boxers to be included in a fight or for a boxer to be allowed to fight for titles.

Boxer Manager/Promoter Brico Santig also averred in an online interview that he is hoping GAB will give consideration to those boxers who renewed their licenses for 2021 but were not able to fight due to the pandemic, and be given time for the first or second Quarter of 2022 to have their respective licenses renewed.

“We are hoping the GAB Chairman and his office extends the renewing of the licensing or to reconsider the time to be given to our Filipino boxers for the renewal of their licenses specially those who were not able to fight, for these boxers and their managers to cope also with the medical and other bills they paid for their respective licenses in 2021” Santig further averred.

Boxing Vlogger Pinoy Boxing Prodigy also expressed their concern about the “2 out of 5 rule” be reconsidered since it affects the Boxers greatly, for boxers who will be fighting overseas If possible it will only apply for boxers who will be fighting in a Championship Bout.

PBPMA is currently awaiting for the GAB Office’s response to their appeal