Sports

Boxing Regional Chief Calls Halt of Unsanctioned Fights

By ALEX P. VIDAL

The regional president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) in Western Visayas has alerted local boxing and government officials in an “emergency” meeting at the Japino Restaurant, Iloilo City last month about the escalation of unsanctioned boxing promotions in many far-flung municipalities and called them to report the matter to police authorities.
Wilfredo (Babes) Ciokon also instructed his local officials headed by regional referee/judge (R/J) commissioner Simplicio Quima and ABAP-registered R/Js, district coordinators, coaches, trainers, and executive committee members to find ways to curtail the unauthorized amateur boxing tournaments.
“This stringent development came in the wake of recent serious boxing injury and mortality incidents that have shocked local boxing circles. In unsupervised tournaments, the safety of the participants is at risk, mainly from fly by night operators seeking only profits at the expense of safe conduct of the boxing tournament,” said Mario “Marlon” Lumacad, Jr., coordinator of the “Box Iloilo Box”, an amateur boxing tournament in Iloilo City.
“Not only are young boxers victimized. Ultimately, the sport of amateur boxing becomes totally compromised,” he added.
Ciokon, a pastor, gave specific instruction to all the ABAP district coordinators to report and coordinate with the nearest PNP station where the unsanctioned boxing tournament is to be held, to warn and possibly stop the tournament unless it is supervised by ABAP officials.
Winners, Promotions/Winners, Gym proprietor and Box Iloilo Box organizer, Winston Erwin Chiongson, who is also president of the Rotary Club of Iloilo West, hosted the meeting. /MP