Windfall awaits Olympic boxing hopefuls

MANILA, Philippines - The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and its corporate sponsor PLDT have dangled cash bonuses of as much as P1 million to boxers who will secure Olympic berths during the Aiba Men’s World Boxing Championships later this year.

Slated Sept. 22-Oct. 10 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the boxfest serves as the first qualifying event to the 2012 Olympics. The Top 8 boxers in each division except heavyweight and super-heavyweight will proceed to London for the Olympiad next year.

“Based on our standard incentives for medalists, the gold medalist in the world championships will get P1 million while the silver medalist will receive P500,000 and the bronze medalist will earn P250,000, all from PLDT-ABAP,” ABAP executive director Ed Picson said.

But since the boxers who will reach the Last 8 of the world tilt will also end up “winners” having netted their tickets to London, Picson said ABAP president Ricky Vargas has decided to also offer a windfall for them.

“The other qualifiers will get P150,000 each,” Picson said.

Boxing is considered one of the country’s best hopes to win that breakthrough Olympic gold, having captured a silver medal twice in 1964 and 1996.

For the Baku qualifiers, the ABAP is looking to enter six boxers. Expected to lead the campaign are the Saludar brothers, Guangzhou Asian Games flyweight champ Rey, and bronze medalist Victorio.