GAB to rule on Lunas bout today

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Eduardo Villanueva will preside in a board meeting in Makati today to decide if Philippine flyweight boxing champion Rolly Lunas should be mandated to stake his crown against top contender Z Gorres in his next fight.

Lunas has until June 22 to face Gorres, the interim titleholder, but is trying to squeeze in a Japan fight on April 27 before the mandatory defense.

Lawyer Rudy Salud told GAB boxing chief Noli Flores in a meeting last Monday that under the rules, Lunas is obligated to take on Gorres in his next outing.

Salud, a former GAB secretary-general, said a Philippine champion has six months within which to defend his title and is allowed six more months of extension if there is no willing promoter, no reasonable purse, and no qualified challenger.

Lunas was ordered to take a 45-day rest by the GAB after suffering a second round knockout loss to Noriyuki Komatsu in Osaka last Feb. 16. During his incapacitation, Gorres scored a fifth round stoppage of Roy Balataria to claim the interim Philippine 112-pound title.

The GAB sanctioned the interim championship fight because of Lunas’ suspension.

Salud argued that the rules stipulate a suspended champion, once reactivated, must face the interim titlist in his next bout as long as there is an available promoter and the purse is acceptable, within the prescribed period of defense. He said promoter Gerry Garcia has offered a P70,000 purse for Lunas to defend against Gorres at the Makati Coliseum on June 1.

GAB boxing chief Noli Flores clarified that the interim championship is dissolved as soon as the regular titleholder resurfaces. He said the GAB has not certified Lunas’ contract to fight in Japan so there is neither a confirmation nor a commitment to the Japan Boxing Commission. Flores noted that the GAB did not authorize the Japan fight contract which Sarreal submitted for clearance last Friday.

Lunas’ manager Manuel Armenta of Albay designated matchmaker Lope (Jun) Sarreal, Jr. to negotiate the fighter’s next bout and it appears Sarreal is pushing for the Japan match which has a guaranteed purse of $2,000.

Last Monday, Sarreal told Salud in a meeting presided by GAB commissioner Emanuel Palabrica and in Flores’ presence that if Lunas loses by knockout in Japan, he will relinquish the Philippine crown. But if Lunas wins or does not lose by knockout, he will face Gorres on or before June 22.

Salud countered by suggesting that Lunas surrender the title now before proceeding to Japan, in the process elevating Gorres from interim to regular champion, and said if Lunas agrees, he will be Gorres’ first challenger on June 1. Sarreal refused.

Flores told The Star yesterday that Armenta may forego the Japan bout if Lunas’ purse is increased to P130,000 for the Gorres defense.

Salud said he will not be a party to setting a precedent for astronomical purses for Philippine title fights but hinted the promoter may arrange a scheme with Armenta to make up the difference if the Japan fight is scratched.

Since there is no GAB certification for the Japan fight, Lunas is under no obligation to accept the offer even as Sarreal insisted he has made a commitment, raising speculation that an advance may have been received.

Salud said what he is after is a just and fair ruling from the GAB. He reiterated that as interim champion, Gorres deserves first crack at the regular title as a priority and Lunas is obligated to fight him next.

Lunas, 19, turned pro in July 2000 and raced to a 13-0 record, with eight knockouts, before losing to Komatsu last February. He outpointed Melvin Magramo to capture the Philippine flyweight crown in April last year and two months later, decisioned Franklin Macalibo in his first defense. Lunas has not staked his title since repulsing Macalino.

Gorres, 20, turned pro in March 2001 and has a 13-0 record, with seven knockouts. Last month, he disposed of Balataria to claim the interim Philippine title during Lunas’ incapacitation.

Salud said after Gorres fights Lunas, his next target is World Boxing Council (WBC) International flyweight champion Randy Mangubat.