There ought to be a law vs sports trash

THERE may be no need yet—thanks to the likes of the Gilas Pilipinas team and Manny Pacquiao—to appoint an anti-garbage czar in Philippine sports. This, despite the sickening efforts by top national amateur sports officials in both the POC and PSC to peddle the hideous seventh place finish in the last Southeast Asian Games in Burma (Myanmar), worst for the Philippines in 36 years, as worthy of praise and emulation.

There should be a law against encouraging mediocrity and developing false values.

We won’t know how this government can properly attend to this malpractice.

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Anyway, in case President Aquino finds it worth his time to consider appointing an anti-garbage point man in Philippine sports, he need not look far.

Of course, we also find it our duty to warn the President against considering the POC, headed by his uncle, which delivered the greatest sporting garbage for the country last year.

Instead, may we suggest the President look in the direction of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), which functions directly under his office.

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It’s like this.

In a report for philboxing.com yesterday, veteran broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz said “GAB Chair Ramon Guanzon will not sanction a fight card in Mandaluyong City on Jan. 11 featuring two former world champions.”

Nathanielsz openly branded the opponents of the former champs as “bums.”

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In fact, Nathanielsz raised the issue of the mismatches with Guanzon on Tuesday.

He cited the case of former IBF light flyweight champion Florante “Little Pacquiao” Condes (25-8-1, with 21 KOs) being matched against Rey “Tiger” Moreno, with a record of 8 wins and 38 losses!

Nathanielsz noted that Moreno had lost 12 of his last 13 fights.

In the apparent main event, former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro (34-13-5, with 24 KOs) was to face Pit Ancaya with a record of 8 wins, 22 losses, 2 draws.

Ancaya had lost all his last 15 fights.

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The bouts, scheduled at the Namayan Sports Auditorium in Mandaluyong, would’ve been under the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF), which was reportedly formed in Macau in the run-up to the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios bout last November.

“No way,” Guanzon told Nathanielsz. “We will not approve, we will not allow it to happen.”

Needless to say, the GAB chief also thanked Mr. Ronnie for his vigilance.

However, it’s incumbent upon Guanzon to review the record of the promoter who submitted the rotten card.

If he cannot suspend or penalize him, the culprit must be sent to the POC, where his likes prosper.