MANILA, Philippines - Mula sa ipinakitang laban ni Charly Suarez sa nakaraang Olympic qualifiers, kumbinsido si boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao na dapat lamang mabigyan ng wildcard slot ang Davao City pug para sa 2012 London Games.
Kaya naman sumama si Pacquiao sa paghiling ng Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) na makalaro si Suarez sa lightweight division sa London Games sa pamamagitan ng tripartite invitation place (TIP).
Ayon kay ABAP executive director Ed Picson, palagiang nakakapag-usap sina Pacquiao at AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu ukol sa posibleng pagsuporta ng Pinoy icon sa mga programa ng AIBA kagaya ng World Series of Boxing (WSB) at AIBA Pro Boxing (APB).
“In one of his letters to Dr. Wu, Manny appealed on behalf of his fellow Mindanaoan (Suarez). He said he saw Charly’s bout on You Tube and he thought Charly deserves to reach the Olympics,” sabi ni Picson.
“In response, Dr. Wu assured Manny that right after the continental qualifiers, AIBA will discuss the matter on the tripartite invitations and they will deliberate whether they can award one to Charly Suarez,” dagdag pa nito.
Nabigo si Suarez na makakuha ng automatic berth para sa London Olympics matapos mabigo kay Qiang Liu ng China, 11-15, sa gold medal match ng Asian qualifiers.
Nakiusap na sina ABAP president Ricky Vargas at chairman Manny V. Pangilinan sa AIBA na bigyan ng tiket si Suarez patungong London Games.
Tanging si lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga, nakasikwat ng slot sa nakaraang World Championships, ang tanging nakatiyak ng puwesto sa Olympics.
Sasabak naman si lady boxer Nesthy Petecio sa AIBA Women’s World Championships sa Mayo 9-20 sa Qinhuangdao, China.