ABAP steps up campaign for London

MANILA, Philippines - The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippine (ABAP) is pulling all stops to make sure it qualifies more boxers to the 2012 London Olympics.

The last Asian Olympic qualifier is coming up. So far only light-fly Mark Antony Barrigahas has qualified for the Philippines through the 2011 World Championships.

Ed Picson, executive director of ABAP, said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue they’re pushing for a couple more, both in the men’s and women’s divisions.

“If we qualify more, we will give them the best training, and send them to London way ahead of time for them to acclimatize and expose themselves with the others coming in early,” he said in the session presented by Pagcor, Shakey’s, and Smart.

Ricky Vargas, the ABAP president, is leaving no stone unturned in giving the rest of the hopefuls the support they need as they head to the final qualifying tournament for Asia.

The men’s qualifier is set April 4-13 in Astana, Kazahkstan while the women’s qualifier will be held May 9-20 Quinhuangdao, China, for the World Championships.

The Filipino boxers are in the thick of their preparations for these qualifying tournaments. They are set to leave for Astana by the first week of March.

Picson said the male boxers will stay on until the qualifying tournament while the female boxers have to leave after a couple of weeks and compete in the Asian Women’s Championships in Mongolia.

“While our boxers are in Astana, we are also looking at the possibility that they can go out to the neighboring countries like Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan for training,” said Picson.

The other hopefuls are flyweight Rey Saludar, bantamweight Joejin Ladon and Junel Cantancio, lightwelters Orlando Tacuyan and Dennis Galvan, lightweight Charlie Suarez, and welterweights Nathaniel Montealto and Wilfredo Lopez.

Suarez will have to go through the eye of the needle because only one slot is left for Asian boxers in the lightweight class, meaning he needs to win the gold in Astana.

“To make it to London he needs to win the gold. But we’re confident that he can pull it off because the best in his division have already qualified,” said Picson.

There are only three women’s weight classes in London, and the Philippines is hoping for qualifiers in lightflyweights Josie Gabuco, Kate Aparri and Nesthy Petecio, and lightweights Janice Banares and Rica Aquino.

The Philippines has no entry in the women’s middleweight class.

Picson said the performance of these boxers while training in Kazakhstan will help the ABAP decide whom to field in the final qualifying tournaments.

He also announced the staging of the National Open boxing championships in Tagbilaran, Bohol from March 4 to 7. Two examiners from the International Amateur Boxing Association are coming over to grade Filipino referees and judges.