by ALEX P. VIDAL
Los Angeles, California – Unless the Philippine sports authority will flex its muscles and reveals its fangs, the abuses and highway robberies victimi-zing struggling Filipino professional fighters abroad will go on unabated.
This was the strong lament made by Anastacio "Mang Tacy" Bartolome Sr., a 84-year-old World War II veteran and former boxing trainer in Capas, Tarlac in the Philippines when he learned that two Filipino boxers have been robbed of sure wins simultaneously in Sydney, Australia and Songkhla, Thailand last year.
Bartolome, who lives in Irvine, California, was referring to the fates of featherweight Reynaldo Belandres and super featherweight Dante Paulino, both underdogs, who were robbed of "clear" wins against their respective foreign opponents despite their dominance and "impressive" performances.
"During the time of Little Campo and Flash Elorde (in the 50’s and 60’s), we have heard of bum decisions victimizing Filipino fighters in Thailand and Japan but they were quickly minimized because of strong protests lodged by the boxing authority in the Philippines which was (and still today) the Games and Amusement Board," sighed Bartolome, who fought Japanese invaders in the Southern Philippines alongside American soldiers under the U.S. Army Forces Far East.
‘SHOCKING RESULTS’
Belandres (12-1-2, 8 KOs) lost to Davey Browne (16-1-1, 4 KOs) in a controversial 10-round tiff for the World Boxing Council (WBC) world youth featherweight title in Sydney but not after he reportedly rearranged the nose of the taller Aussie champion.
The controversy prompted the Grange Old School Boxing Promotion to call for a rematch after the verdict was harshly criticized in media.
Belandres reportedly swarmed over the disheveled Browne from the opening bell until the final round and "clearly" outclassed the hometown favorite with over right hand and crisp jabs that found their marks mostly on Browne’s face. But the judges did not agree with his gallant efforts.
In Songhla, some 400 kilometers away from Bangkok, Paulino, 29, who once lost to former world championship challenger Randy Suico and concurrent world champion Chris John, reportedly mauled former world super bantamweight champion Somsak Sithchatchawal in 11 heats for the interim Pan-Asian Boxing Association (PABA) super featherweight title at the Taksin University Gym but the bout ended in "horrific" split draw.
The draw reportedly came as a total shocker as Paulino (14-8-2, 10 KOs) scored two knockdowns in round two and round five.
Somsak (60-3-3, 44 KOs), who won the World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight jewels with a 10th round disposal of Mahyar Monshipour in Hauts-de-Seine, France on March 18, 2006 and lost it via the third round technical knockout to Celestino Caballero in Wat Ban Rai, Thailand on October 4 of the same year, reportedly was puzzled by Paulino’s style and could not effectively connect against the moving target.
Paulino reportedly refused to be intimidated by Somsak’s signature body punches and launched his own attack without let up. Paulino emerged with more clear shots and superior defense to the delight of the partisan crowd.
When the fight went the distance, two Thai judges submitted different score-cards. Chuchrt Kaokit saw his compatriot winner, 105-104, while Prommase Chakshuraksa played safe at 105-105. Filipino Gil Robiego gave the bout to Paulino, 105-104.
To settle the controversy, the Kokiet Promotion has called for a rematch.
DAMAGE
"But the damage has been done," rued Bartolome, referring to the twin calls of the Australian and Thai promoters for a rematch.
"Something must be done to teach them (cheating ring officials) a lesson. Strong words must be used to condemn these non-stop highway robberies that deny our local fighters the chance to improve their ratings in the world and damage their morale," Bartolome, who stands only five feet and one inch, the same height of the first Asian world champion Pancho Villa, boomed.
"Even if they will hold ten (10) more rematches over the next years, who will compensate or restore the busted morale of these Filipino boxers who only earn a living to feed their families and make their country proud?" Bartolome concluded.
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