PSC keen on tapping Cuban boxing mentor
Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez and boxing president Manny Lopez are set to leave for
“I’ve been talking to Cuban Ambassador Jorge Jimenez about it and I expect to leave anytime soon,” Ramirez said. “I think we would not be sent there by the ambassador if we wouldn’t be getting what we want.”
Ramirez said they would try to invite Cuban coach Raul Liranza to handle the RP boxing squad bound for the Beijing Games.
In fact, the PSC is willing to offer Liranza $3,000 or more or settle for a coach in the mold of the talented Cuban mentor who guided Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco to a silver medal finish in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
“I don’t think money would be a problem,” said Ramirez.
The Cuban government, however, isn’t likely to let go of Liranza, its top boxing coach, since the Cubans are out to dominate the event in
Ramirez, however, said they might go for the son of former Cuban coach Dr. Alcides Sagarra Caron, who handled the Cuban boxing team for 54 years, winning 32 Olympic and 76 World Championship gold medals.
“If we couldn’t get Liranza, we might go for at least a top 10 caliber coach in
Meanwhile, the Philippine boxing team is eyeing to book two more Olympic berths when it competes in the first Asian Qualifying slated Jan. 26-Feb. 3 in
Though the Filipino boxers are expecting a hostile crowd following the
“We are targeting two Olympic slots and we will redeem lost glory in the last SEA Games,” said Lopez.
Doha Asian Games gold medalists Joan Tipon and Violito Payla and Fil-Am standout Adam Bigornia Fiel head the crack roster of RP boxers slugging it out with the best in the region for spots in the quadrennial meet slated in August in
Gold and silver medal winners automatically earn trips to the Beijing Games.
Only Harry Tanamor has so far clinched a berth in the Olympic Games after a runner-up finish in last year‘s World Championships in Chicago.
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