Be circumspect and focused, Abap urges Asian Games boxing judges

By: Francis T.J. Ochoa - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—There will be no protest regarding Ian Clark Bautista’s loss to hometown bet Choe Sangdon in their round-of-16 flyweight match in the 17th Asian Games last Saturday at Seonhak gym in Incheon, South Korea.

But the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) certainly wants officials to take a close look at it.

Abap executive director Ed Picson wrote a letter to David Francis, the Asiad tournament supervisor for boxing, asking for a review of the fights and other ones that had been questioned to make sure that judges and referees will be more “circumspect and focused” for the rest of the tournament.

“We felt strongly that Bautista won the fight and the reaction of the crowd reinforces that argument,” Picson wrote.

“Having said that, I assure you that I have been in this sport long enough to know there will be times when things happen which strike us as unfathomable. Then again, there have been several instances in the tournament (not involving us) which elicited angry reactions, not only from the participants involved, but the crowd as well.

“We are concerned that repetition of such insensitive decisions may send the wrong signals and damage the gains the AIBA leadership under President Ching Kuo Wu has achieved in its avowed goal of transparency and fairness.

“As you know, I considered filing a protest but after speaking with you, thought the better of it.”

Picson clarified that he was not out to protest the decision or accuse any of the officials of any wrongdoing but suggested that tapes be reviewed for future reference.

“As a brother in our beloved sport, I know you to be one of the most upright people I have come across in boxing. The same holds true for most of the officials working the tournament. This view is unchanged.

“I only wish for our tournament to be successful and for our sport to be free of controversy and suspicion.”