ALL IS SET for the Grand National Amateur Boxing Championships (NABC) slated January 17 to 24 in Bacolod City.

According to incoming Secretary General of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), Patrick Gregorio, 20 boxing groups have already confirmed to join the first major event of ABAP.

"I am personally inviting all boxing clubs in Leyte, Bohol, Siquijor, especially in Cebu as well as the boxing aficionados to send representatives in this first big event of ABAP in 2009," Gregorio said.

He added that this one week boxing extravaganza is an avenue to identify aspiring boxers to fill in the vacant slots in the boxing national team in preparation for the 2009 Southeast Asean Games in Laos and in 2010 in China.

ABAP is inviting all-time Filipino favorite boxer Manny Pacquiao to grace the opening. Gregorio also said that they want to invite Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. to join the event.

This year’s NABC is held in line with the boxing congress and the launch of the Amateur Boxing Inter-region tournament.

Interested participants and stakeholders to the NABC and conference may contact
Gregorio at pcgregorio @smart.com.ph or the secretariat at 0918-949-7789. Correspondent ISte Leopoldo