RP tapped to host ‘04 Asian boxing

The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) recognizing the Filipinos expertise in organizing big tournaments has assigned the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) to stage the 2004 Asian Boxing Championship (ABC).

Set for Jan. 10-18 next year, the ABC will not only be a continental championship but will also serve as the first of three Asian region qualifying tournaments for the 2004 Olympics in Athens Greece slated in August, also next year.

"This is great honor for the Philippines. The AIBA has acknowledged our experience in staging prestigious and big international tournaments successfully," ABAP president Manny Lopez, currently the Federation of Asian Boxing Secretary general, said after receiving the letter of confirmation from AIBA president Anwar Chowdry.

In this letter, the Aiba head said "I am confirming that the Philippines has been awarded the hosting of the Asian Boxing Championships for the year 2004 to be held in Manila on Jan. 10-18, 2004 with the rest day on the 15th. The increase in the days of competition is because of the expected number of participating boxers in this tournament, especially as it will be a qualifying tournament (for the Olympics) also. I am confident that with the experience that your association has staging such tournaments, it will be one of the most well organized championships in Asia."

The two other Olympics qualifying tournaments will be held in China in March and Pakistan in June, also next year.

The Philippines last hosted an Olympic qualifying tournament in 1996 in Cebu City where two Filipinos Virgilio Vicera and Elias Recaido won the gold medals in their weight divisions to gain berths in the Atlanta Olympics.

The Philippines was to host the World Championship in 1999 but was forced to ask for a change of venue due to financial constraints.

"But with this confirmation, the ABAP will move heaven and earth to successfully host the Asian Boxing Championships. It will not only showcase the Philippines as a major sports tournament organizer but also as a haven for tourism," Lopez noted while saying that the association will begin preparations for the event in the very near future.

Lopez, meanwhile, in his capacity as secretary — general of the FAAB, announced a 14-tournament Asiad calendar, capped by the boxing event in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in December and the July World Championships in Thailand, for this year.

Aside from the Vietnam SEAG and the Thailand world, other tournaments will be held in Myanmar, India, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Mongolia, and the Philippines, which will see the revival of the Mayor’s Cup.