President declares Nov WBC month

President Arroyo has declared November as World Boxing Council (WBC) month while urging all government agencies to support the Games and Amusements Board in the holding of the WBC annual boxing convention in Manila.

The President issued Proclamation 1407 calling on government agencies and offices, government-owned and controlled corporations and the local government units to extend assistance to the GAB for the 45th annual convention to be held Nov. 11-17 at the Manila Hotel.

“This will be an opportunity for the Philippines to be recognized as a world-class venue of international forums and meetings and more importantly to show its support in the boxing world where Filipino boxers are known to be dominant and for it to promote those Filipino boxers who have potential to become world boxing champions,” the proclamation stated.

The  Philippines was voted as host of the annual convention during the 2006 WBC Night of the Champions. 

GAB chair Eric Buhain is one of the members of the 60-member board of governors of the WBC and is vice president of the Oriental-Pacific Boxing Federation.

“The World Boxing Council is considered as one of the biggest, most prestigious and most influential boxing organizations in the world which consists of 168 member nations and 14 affiliated federations,” the proclamation noted.

Buhain said a number of boxing greats are expected to attend the convention, including Larry Holmes, Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis, Oscar dela Hoya and Marco Antonio Barrera.  – Marvin Sy