WBC OPBF RJ SEMINAR IN MALAYSIA A HUGE SUCCESS

HISTORIC. The organizers and participants of the first-ever seminar for professional boxing referees and judges held Oct. 29-30 at the Muayfit Puchong in Malaysia conducted by the World Boxing Council Asia and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation.

By LITO DELOS REYES

THE first-ever seminar for professional boxing referees and judges in Malaysia held October 29 and 30 was a huge success following the accreditation of the newly-formed Malaysia Boxing Association (MBA) by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF).

Sixteen participants including two female judges attended the two-day seminar conducted by WBC Referee of the Year awardee Bruce McTavish, WBC Asia Secretary General Patrick Cusick and WBC Asia and OPBF Promoter of the Year Brico Santig of the Philippines.

“We’re really excited to work with MBA as we believe that there are so many untapped boxing talents in Malaysia and the surrounding region,” said Cusick.

“It’s as if we’re sitting on a mine of unpolished diamonds! Now we are here to do the polishing,” added Cusick.

MBA chairman Raymond Lew, on the other hand, thanked the WBC Asia for making MBA as the first and only professional boxing organization in Malaysia.

“It has always been the dream of boxers to say that he has fought in a glamorous venue such as Las Vegas, or in the same ring that Mike Tyson or Manny Pacquiao has fought in before,” said Lew.

“Sadly that has never been possible for Malaysian boxers because we have never been officially sanctioned by a recognized organization before. Today we are making that dream come true!” said Lew.

Lew is also the managing director of the seminar’s venue Muayfit Puchong, one of the top MMA gyms in Asia and the only gym from Malaysia in the said list.

Certificates and WBC Asia badges were awarded to the participants during the closing ceremony attended by Datu Rahman Lariwoo, president of the Sarawak Boxing Association and team manager of the Malaysian boxing team in the Southeast Asian Games slated next year in Malaysia. It was followed by a press conference.

MBA is now planning to have its inaugural boxing presentation in February in Malaysia to be officiated by its own referees and judges.

(Left to right) Referee-judge Bruce McTavish, WBC Asia secretary-general Patrick Cusick, MBA Chairman Raymond Lew and international boxing promoter Brico Santig of the Philippines.