By ALEX P. VIDAL
Disturbed by the fate of Cebuano boxer Apol Suico who was scratched from the card following his failure to obtain a Mexican visa on time for a 10-round non-title fight versus Koki Kameda in Sonora, Mexico on July 12, World Boxing Council (WBC) ring physician Dr. Allan L. Recto has scheduled another visit to the Mexican Embassy in Makati City, Philippines tentatively on August 1 in the hope to win the heart of the consulate for Filipino boxers wishing to fight in Mexico.
"I would like to request if I could have a courtesy call with you and discuss other opportunities on how I could help our Filipino boxers especially when they have fights in Mexico," read Recto’s letter to Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Angel George Cruz who holds office at Consul Encargado de Asuntos Consulares on Dasmarinas Village, Makati city.
Recto, husband of famous pediatrician, Dr. Gesina of Laredo, Texas, said he wished the sad plight of Suico, a flyweight contender, would not happen again to other Filipinos making a living in professional boxing.
Suico (10-2, 6 KOs) failed to make a trip for his failure to get the Mexican visa on time. Matchmaker and Tokyo-based journalist Joe Koizumi had expressed sadness over Suico’s predicament saying the young Filipino prize-fighter was denied of the opportunity to earn a leaving because of the visa problem.
Recto said, "Filipino boxers leaving for fights abroad should be properly assisted by authorities concerned because this is their only opportunity to earn dollars and they are carrying the flag of the Philippines."
"Had Suico applied for Mexican visa earlier, his chances to improve his world ranking if he beat the world number one Kameda were big," Recto stressed.
Recto believed that the Philippines should sustain its "cordial" relations with the Mexican Embassy so that they would assist Filipino athletes not only in boxing by expediting their visa applications but on other problems.
"Paying a visit to the ambassador is one way of showing our deep respect for the Mexican Embassy and improving our foreign relations," stressed Recto.
Recto also informed Ambassador Cruz that he had been to different Mexican cities like Leon, Gunajuato, Cancun, Zihuatanejo, Cozmel, etc. "because I love travelling to Mexico."
The 44-year-old physician was also accommodated by Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio M. Lagdameo in a courtesy call at the Embajada De Filipinas on Sierra Gorda, 175, Col. Lomas De Chapultepec Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo on July 4.
Recto, who will serve as cut man for world-ranked Bernabe Concepcion who will fight in the undercard of the Miguel Cotto versus Antonio Margarito world welterweight rumble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 26, told Ambassador Cruz "the primary purpose of my trip to the Philippines is to watch Bobby Pacquiao’s fight (brother of our famous boxer Manny Pacquiao) in Cebu on August 2, 2008." /MP
"I would like to request if I could have a courtesy call with you and discuss other opportunities on how I could help our Filipino boxers especially when they have fights in Mexico," read Recto’s letter to Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Angel George Cruz who holds office at Consul Encargado de Asuntos Consulares on Dasmarinas Village, Makati city.
Recto, husband of famous pediatrician, Dr. Gesina of Laredo, Texas, said he wished the sad plight of Suico, a flyweight contender, would not happen again to other Filipinos making a living in professional boxing.
Suico (10-2, 6 KOs) failed to make a trip for his failure to get the Mexican visa on time. Matchmaker and Tokyo-based journalist Joe Koizumi had expressed sadness over Suico’s predicament saying the young Filipino prize-fighter was denied of the opportunity to earn a leaving because of the visa problem.
Recto said, "Filipino boxers leaving for fights abroad should be properly assisted by authorities concerned because this is their only opportunity to earn dollars and they are carrying the flag of the Philippines."
"Had Suico applied for Mexican visa earlier, his chances to improve his world ranking if he beat the world number one Kameda were big," Recto stressed.
Recto believed that the Philippines should sustain its "cordial" relations with the Mexican Embassy so that they would assist Filipino athletes not only in boxing by expediting their visa applications but on other problems.
"Paying a visit to the ambassador is one way of showing our deep respect for the Mexican Embassy and improving our foreign relations," stressed Recto.
Recto also informed Ambassador Cruz that he had been to different Mexican cities like Leon, Gunajuato, Cancun, Zihuatanejo, Cozmel, etc. "because I love travelling to Mexico."
The 44-year-old physician was also accommodated by Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio M. Lagdameo in a courtesy call at the Embajada De Filipinas on Sierra Gorda, 175, Col. Lomas De Chapultepec Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo on July 4.
Recto, who will serve as cut man for world-ranked Bernabe Concepcion who will fight in the undercard of the Miguel Cotto versus Antonio Margarito world welterweight rumble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 26, told Ambassador Cruz "the primary purpose of my trip to the Philippines is to watch Bobby Pacquiao’s fight (brother of our famous boxer Manny Pacquiao) in Cebu on August 2, 2008." /MP
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