MVP Cup rekindles Thai-RP ring feud

MANILA, Philippines - Thailand will field its leading fighters as it renews its rivalry with the Philippines in the Manny V. Pangilinan International Friendship Cup firing off July 14 at the PICC Forum.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson said the Thais will be coming over with an 11-man roster led by Athens Olympic silver medal winner Worapoj Petchkoom.

Also in the list submitted by the Thailand Amateur Boxing Association to organizers of the weeklong meet are 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Kaeo Pongprayoon, Chatchai Bujdee, Apichet Seansit and Saylom Ardi.

Pongprayoon beat Harry Tañamor for the gold medal in the 48-kg class, while Bujdee slammed the door on Doha Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon in the opening round of their 54-kg bout.

“This is going to be a very competitive tournament considering that Thailand is sending over its Class A boxers,” said Picson during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave.

The Philippines, which has a long history of rivalry for boxing supremacy with Thailand in the Southeast Asian region, is made up of a 14-man delegation headed by Laos SEA Games gold medal winner Charlie Suarez, bronze medalist Rey Saludar and his brother Victor Saludar in the men’s division and Asian Indoor Games 51 kg champion Annie Albania in the distaff side.

Expected to give the Thais and Filipinos tough fight in the tournament honoring ABAP chairman Pangilinan are emerging Asian power China, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and Sri Lanka.

Competitions will be held at 48 kgs., 51 kgs., 54 kgs., 57 kgs., 60 kgs., 64kgs., and 69 kgs., in the men’s class, while five weight classes are up for grabs in the women’s side – 46 kgs., 48 kgs., 51 kgs., 54 kgs., and 57 kgs.

A cash prize of $1,000 awaits all gold medal winners in the meet patterned after the highly successful Mayor’s Cup.

Aside from the cash incentive, Filipino gold medalists, according to Picson, will also be included in the training camp ABAP is setting up in Los Angeles and San Francisco in August.

The ABAP executive director also added that no less than International Boxing Association (AIBA) president Dr. Ching Kuo Woo of Chinese-Taipei is going to be on hand as special guest during the opening ceremony, accompanied by Asian Boxing Federation head Chang Jiangping and executive director Richard Guozheng.