The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
A total of 64 Filipino boxers rated by the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) can no longer fight abroad after a regulation came out requiring a boxer to score at least two wins of his last three fights.
Among the rated boxers are current Philippine featherweight champion Randy “The Master” Braga (lost-win-lost), Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) lightweight champion Rosekie “Kapre” Cristobal (win-lost-lost), Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) flyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (win-lost-lost) and former WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar “Terminator” Metuda (win-lost-lost).
“We have formally written a letter requesting the GAB to reconsider the 2-of-3 rule for the boxers to fight abroad,” said international promoter-manager-matchmaker Brico Santig of La Trinidad, Benguet.
The letter, which was received by GAB main office in Makati, has been signed by almost 250 boxing promoters, managers, matchmakers, trainers and professional boxers from all over the Philippines.
These include the country’s top promoters and managers Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. of Paranaque, Jim Claude Mananquil, Dexter Tan and Art Advincula of Gen. Santos City, Dino Olivetti of Binan, Juan Monis of Valenzuela, Jun Gandez of Batangas, Jennifer Javellana of Iloilo, Wowie Lalanto of Cagayan de Oro, Troy Agustin Jr. of Tarlac and Joven Jimenez of Cavite.
“We would like to inform GAB that we are now deeply affected by 2-of-3 Rule,” they said.
Part of letter stated that “the Philippine ratings of the 64 boxers are useless because they still cannot fight abroad and so they lost their opportunity to earn money or become an international or world champion. To cite an example, the loss-loss-win card in the last three fights which is within the 2-out-of-loss and maybe given a chance to fight for a regional or even world championship by a governing body for sport. It really depends. In such case, since the 2-of-3 rule is in effect, we have thrown away the big opportunity for Filipino boxers.”
“In the world bodies of boxing, the top 15 rated boxers are qualified to fight for the world, international or regional championship belts. They don’t use the 2-of-3 Rule and only needed rated boxers to qualify to fight,” the letter said.
The signatories urged GAB to be more objective, rather than subjective on the matter. PNA