THAI PROMOTER WANTS GAB ACCOUNTABLE FOR LOSS OF CREDIBILITY

By: Pegion Lobien

The Thai matchmaker who set up Marzon Cabilla from fighting Sirichai Thaiyen is seeking a better explanation from the Boxing division of the Games and Amusement.

In his electronic letter to GAB, Praya asked for a better explanation when the boxing body denied Cabilla’s fight against Thaiyen for the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation silver bantamweight belt in Chanbori, Thailand.

Panya Pachakorn wants a full accounting from GAB since they only had three hours to look for a replacement even as he already spent money for airfare for Cabilla and the boxer’s camp.

Pachakorn wrote: “Your late denial seriously damage(d) not only our boxing promotion but also my credibility (with the) sponsor.” He went to ask who will reimburse the amount he spent like the round trip ticket of Cabilla and his camp. He further said: “I really feel unhappy and upset with this case and looking forward for your reasonable response so that I could explain to promoter, boxer, sponsor and persons concerned to restore my credibility.”

Cabilla, who received the GAB denial two hours prior his flight, was replaced by Dionatha Tobias, who fought for the first but still managed to go the distance for a unanimous decision in favor of Thaiyen.

Boxing aficionados say that Cabilla could have managed a victory against the “superior” record of Thaiyen.

Cabilla and his manager were already prepared to board the plane for Thailand on May 29, when the GAB’s boxing division sent an e-mail that his fight for the OPBF silver bantamweight title did not push through.

The e-mail from GAB to boxing match maker Macky Canisio read: “We request to inform you that your request for fight abroad of boxer Marzon Cabilla has been disapproved,…”

GAB cited the superior record of Cabilla’s opponent Thaiyen who sports a 53-4-0 win-loss-draw card, 37 of the wins come from knockout against the Filipino’s 17-18-1 with six KOs slate as reason for the denial.

The e-mail came two hours before the 3:45 PM departure to Thailand of Cabilla, who travelled from Bukidnon at 12 midnight of the same day to Cagayan de Oro in time for the departure.

What confounded Cabilla and his manager was the late GAB reply when the request was made last May 16, 13 day prior departure and 15 to the fight.

“Bakit last minute ang denial pwede naman pre-evaluation for three days. Bakit ngayon lang (binigay ang) denyial (at) lahat naman daw ng GAB rules nasunod with two wins in the last five fights at medical (ni Cabilla ay) pasado,” Cabilla manager Roel Kaamino was quoted as saying.

Kaamino rued that they have wasted time and even money in preparation to the fight sacrificing work that could feed his family.

Pachakorn is contemplating on filing legal actions against the GAB as the boxing organizers have already set the match and tickets have already been distributed. Cabilla’s fight was one of the undercards in the title rematch of Thai hero Wanheng Menayothin against Tatsuya Fukuhara for Menayothin’s World Boxing Council straw weight title. Earlier, Highland Boxing Promotion’s Jelbirt Gomera was denied from fighting former World Boxing Association bantamweight Ryan Burnett in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The GAB relented only three days before the May 17 fight and was jetlagged when he faced Burnett, whose only loss was to Filipino great Nonito Donaire, Jr. resulting to his fifth round loss. Gomera was denied for the same reason: that he is way beyond his league by facing a more superior fighter in Burnett. PML