Pug’s fate in state visit agenda?

The fate of bed-ridden Cebu fighter Sonny Boco may be taken up during President Arroyo’s state visit in Thailand, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella told The STAR yesterday.

Puentevella, who leaves with the Chief Executive this morning, will advise the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) representative in the Presidential entourage of Boco’s status. He said the DFA will decide how to handle the matter but did not rule out the possibility of President Arroyo inquiring about Boco since it is a life-or-death situation.

President Arroyo departs this morning for Malaysia and arrives in Thailand tonight. She will stay in Bangkok until tomorrow night and returns home early Thursday morning.

Boco, 22, was knocked out by Pornsawan Porpamook Kratingdaeng-Gym in the fifth round of a Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) minimumweight title bout in the Cambodian border town of Polpot last April 11. He lost consciousness and was rushed to a nearby Thai hospital across the border.

Boco is still confined in the Thai frontier town of physical therapy for six months up to a year assuming he survives. He will never fight again, added Carter.

Boco was guaranteed $1,200 for his first overseas fight. He turned pro last year and was unbeaten in six fights before facing Pornsawan.

Chanteburi and the uncertainty of who will pay for his medical bills has led to his manager Terry Carter wondering if the stricken fighter is being cared for.

Two operations were performed on Boco since his confinement. Doctors drilled four holes into Boco’s skull to drain the blood that hemorrhaged in his brain. A portion of his cranium was also removed to relieve the pressure on the membrane.

Carter, an American who lives in Cebu with his Filipina wife Lorna Brazil and their two children, said a day after the fight, he was assured by Thai matchmaker Narong Intrakol in an overseas phone call that surgery wasn’t necessary. So he was shocked when he was later informed of the surgeries. Carter didn’t accompany Boco to Thailand. Boco flew only with trainer Jojo Cayson.

Because the fight was held in Cambodia where insurance wasn’t provided, Carter said the Thai promoter has refused to shoulder all of Boco’s hospital expenses. Narong agreed to pay for Cayson’s board and lodging during Boco’s confinement but told Carter he is not footing the bill for the fighter’s hospitalization.

Initially, Narong proposed a sharing of Boco’s expenses with Carter taking care of 25 percent. He raised Carter’s share to 50 percent as the expenses rose. Yesterday, Carter said Narong advised him that the Thai promoter is willing to pay only up to 10 percent of the bills. The expenses are up to $3,000 and could reach to $6,000 before Boco is released.

Carter said Narong is shielding the promoter who has not surfaced in discussing Boco’s fate. "I am offended that the promoter is not talking to me," noted Carter. "Narong is the matchmaker, not the promoter. I want to know why the promoter is not taking care of Sonny. The Thai promoter has the obligation to pay for Sonny’s expenses. It’s not right that he’s bailing out at our expense."

Carter said he plans to fly to Thailand on May 18 with boxer Marvin Tampus and Games and Amusements Board (GAB) physician Dr. Nasser Cruz to check on Boco.