(CHRIS ROBINSON: The generous quotes in my last column—Sorry, Tim Bradley sees no hope for Pacquiao—were courtesy of the highly rated writer Chris Robinson of the Las Vegas Boxing Examiner. The statements, the sharpest by Bradley to date, were inadvertently credited to another writer. My apologies and sincerest thanks to Mr. Robinson.)
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THERE’S the good news which says it’s not all over yet for boxer Charly Suarez in his bid to see action in this year’s London Olympics.
The power-punching Suarez fell short on points against a taller Chinese veteran in the final match of the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan last month.
The setback cast a pall of doom on the national amateur boxing backyard.
However, Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, confided that Manny Pacquiao has joined hands with them in lobbying for Suarez’s entry via the tripartite invitation place (TIP) in the lightweight division of this year’s Olympics.
Pacquiao, according to Picson, has appealed to Aiba president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu, who has assured that Suarez’s case will be tabled when they next deliberate on the tripartite invitations.
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That’s a great shot for amateur boxing.
Now, this may not be as big a news but the Abap is bound to profit vastly from a bold step taken by Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr.
Espino has agreed to go all out and support Abap’s grassroots talent search.
“It’s a go for the Governor,” veteran news correspondent Jun Velasco, a provincial consultant, told the Inquirer on Sunday.
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This was how it all started.
Velasco, with fellow newsman Cesar Carpio, motored to Baguio City last Saturday with a mission to see how Gov. Espino could take a bigger role in national sports development.
Later in the day, the duo proceeded to La Trinidad, Benguet where the card “Great Fights at the Heights” was being staged.
The bouts featured boxers from the North against fighters from the South brought over by former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol.
Before the fights, Velasco, together with Carpio and cycling legend Jesus Garcia Jr., deliberated on Gov. Espino’s offer over cold beer and succulent broiled chicken in a restaurant nearby.
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Velasco explained that Gov. Espino wanted to be involved in either basketball or boxing.
“You have ready material here,” Velasco was told. “In fact, Manny Piñol has in his possession the blueprint of a province-wide boxing program which he had planned to present to the Abap.”
They discussed the basics of the program, like starting with inter-barangay tournaments, tapping young raw talents from deep down the grassroots.
Of course, these raw materials will have to be taught the basics before they are made to box formally.
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Piñol readily agreed to lend the program blueprint to the Province of Pangasinan, upon being assessed of the plan.
Needless to say, the program could prosper only with direct assistance from the Abap, mainly in the areas of officiating and transfer of boxing basics.
Velasco said that if Gov. Espino would go for the program, they would be writing the Abap to work out a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
After the fights, the consulting group that included this reporter broke up brimming with optimism.
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Velasco and his group returned to Dagupan.
Early on Sunday, while this reporter was heading home from the City of (forlorn) Pines, Velasco texted with glee.
“Yes, we need the technical blueprint. It’s a go for Gov. Espino. He extends his gratitude.”
The Espino program would most likely be replicated later in other provinces.
It should also serve as cornerstone in Gov. Espino’s plan to establish a sports academy in Pangasinan.