ABAP to confer with stakeholders

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines will hold a series of consultation meetings nationwide with stakeholders of the sport aimed at coming up with a concrete program in pursuit of the first Olympic gold medal in the 2012 London Games.

ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio yesterday said the program will start today when boxing president Ricky Vargas visits the Cantada gym at 11 a.m. before proceeding to Baguio City tomorrow.

The ABAP officials will then go to Davao and Cebu on Wednesday then to Bacolod City for the final stop on Thursday.

“We will conduct inspection, observe and hold consultations with the stakeholders,” said Gregorio.

The new ABAP leadership hopes to turn things around for the sport, which many believe has the best chance to give the country its first ever gold in the Olympics.

Manny Lopez, who served as RP’s boxing chief for more than a decade, will remain at ABAP as vice-president.

The series of consultation meetings, part of ABAP’s effort to realign its policies after several Olympic debacles, will culminate in the stakeholders’ conference during the National Boxing Championships slated Jan. 18-24 in Bacolod City.

Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world today, has been invited to grace the motorcade on Jan. 17.   – Joey Villar