Is Philippine boxing really dying?

The new chair of the Games and Amusements Board, Abraham Mitra, has been quoted as saying Philippine boxing was dying.

It could not be determined if that was an official declaration; or if he made the statement upon his return from the last fight of Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

The timing was vital, because Pacquiao’s recapture of the WBO welterweight crown has upped the number of reigning Filipino world boxing champions to nearly half a dozen, a bounty.

International matchmaker Lope “Jun” Sarreal swore Mitra meant well, but readily added the observation about the state of boxing in the country may not be very accurate.

“We still have boxing promotions around, there are the Elorde brothers Bebot and Johnny, and many others,” Sarreal said.

Out in Cebu alone, sportsman Tony Aldeguer, patriarch of the world-famous Ala Stable, has been ably helping keep boxing in the Philippines afloat.

So why did the new GAB chief have to say boxing was dying—if not yet dead?

Said Tony Aldeguer: “Maybe he’s looking at it from a different perspective. In his recent meeting with the boxing group, he made mention that, before we had over 1,500 licensed

boxers.”

How many are left?

“Now it’s down to a little less than 650. For me it’s because of the astronomical expenses to get a boxer’s license, particularly on the CT-Scan, hepa test and other medical charges,” Aldeguer explained.

Blame was also pinned on the GAB boxing division, whose over-travelled chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz, had been asked to be sacked by a group of boxing power brokers in Cebu.

Meanwhile, Sen. Pacquiao has filed a bill creating the Philippine Boxing Commission.

Sarreal said the boxing commission would aim to replace the GAB.

Question: Is the GAB, which also supervises other professional sports in the country, the main problem?