Abap justifies SEA Games absence of 2 top boxers

Sending more boxers to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics is the primary concern of the country’s amateur boxing federation.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) also emphasized that the participation of Southeast Asian Games champions Mark Anthony Barriga and Charly Suarez in the Aiba Pro Boxing (APB) League will increase their chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

Amateur boxing chief Ricky Vargas cited this as the main reason why Barriga and Suarez will not be seeing action in the Singapore SEA Games in June, adding that the APB is one of the avenues open for qualification to the Olympics.

“This is in line with our long-term goal to have more boxers qualify for the Olympics and increase our chances for a medal without sacrificing our short-term goals,” Vargas said.

Barriga, who won the light flyweight gold in the 2013 SEA Games in Burma, and the lightweight Suarez, champion in the 2011 SEA Games, had earlier signed a five-year contract with the APB. The deal didn’t sit well with officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Vargas said other boxers could fill the void left by Barriga and Suarez.

“We are not overly concerned about the possibility of Barriga and Suarez not being in the SEA Games,” said Vargas. “We have full confidence in our other boxers.

“We take full responsibility for our choices for the Singapore SEA Games.”

Vargas said the participation of the boxers in the APB was not a arbitrary decision of the Abap. He said Barriga and Suarez were picked for the tournament by the International Boxing Association because they were ranked among the top eight in their weight categories.

“APB is good for our boxers and for Philippine boxing,” said Vargas. “Rest assured we would never do anything detrimental to the national sports program.”