Global domination by Filipinos.
This is precisely the goal of a home-and-away professional boxing tournament envisioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) after forging a five-year partnership with the International Boxing Federation to further boost the combat sport in Asia.
GAB chair Abraham Mitra said the tripartite deal with Rejoy International Holdings in Beijing will organize friendly matches and set up training camps for Filipino and Chinese sluggers in preparation for the coming IBF Silk Road Champions Tournament.
According to Mitra, IBF China led by its president, Ruihang Wang, will host the fights, training camps and the championships while GAB will provide high-level boxers, judges, referees, coaches and trainers.
“Everyone is focused on pushing Asian boxers, specifically from the Belt and Road countries (China and the Philippines) toward global domination of the popular sport,” said Mitra.
He explained the fights will be run under the rules and regulations governing professional boxing as sanctioned and agreed upon by the GAB and the IBF.
“A type of home and away format will be adopted to sharpen boxers’ versatility to fight skillful opponents in diverse environments,” said Mitra.
He pointed out that the physical demands of training and fighting in extremely different climatic conditions and altitudes than home soil would toughen up Filipino boxers.
“Fans will love the regular and friendlies and championships to be held in both countries,” said Mitra. “They will enjoy fights by international fighters right in their countries.”
Based on the agreement, the vision of the signatories is to help Asia collect the most belts in numerous divisions worldwide.
“All parties will work toward making China and the Philippines the home of boxing greats through this agreement,” said Mitra.