Ex-ABAP chair says it takes only one

LONDON – Former Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) chairman Rep. Raul Daza of Northern Samar said yesterday going for gold is like looking for a coin in a beach but wouldn’t rule out lone Filipino boxer Mark Anthony Barriga from hitting paydirt in the lightflyweight division of the 30th Olympics here.

“It takes only one,” said Daza who flew over from Manila yesterday with his wife, daughter and a grandson. “If we go by statistical probability, it’s difficult to expect Barriga to win five straight for the gold. But I’m optimistic. I’m hoping he’s not too pressured because he’s the only fighter in our team. He’s got brawn and brains. I’ve spoken to his coach Roel (Velasco) who assured me Barriga is a very disciplined athlete, walang hangin sa ulo. Barriga’s ready, he’s in condition. What makes him special is even if he’s only 19, he’s smart. I’ve seen him fight once or twice and I was impressed by his intelligence in the ring.”

Daza, who served 16 years as ABAP chairman with former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez as president, said he’s convinced that boxing will deliver the elusive first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. “We almost made it twice with Anthony Villanueva in 1964 and Onyok Velasco in 1996,” he said. “If winning the gold in the Olympics is a manifestation of the economic state of the country, how can you explain Mongolia with its small population? It’s not just the economy or population that counts. It’s not just the money. But there are things we must work on in boxing to get that first gold.”

Daza, 77, said money is no problem with the ABAP because of PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan’s support but the problem of losing amateur standouts to the pros must be addressed to arrest the depletion of the talent pool. “Take Ricky Dulay of Northern Samar,” said Daza, now serving in his fifth Congress since 1969. “He was in the ABAP pool but recently turned pro. Manny Pacquiao’s success is inspiring our top amateurs to follow in his footsteps. Off-hand, I think we should revive the ‘Go For Gold’ weekly boxing TV series. I know the ABAP has an active grassroots program all over the country but it’s different if you put the fights on TV. The glamor factor will entice kids to join. The ABAP had great success with ‘Go For Gold’ on TV during Mel’s time. Another thing is to set up a boxing academy. There are plans to establish a sports academy but I think boxing should be first in the list of priorities. The academy will be for sports and academics.”

Daza said hiring a foreign coach shouldn’t be reconsidered. “Manny (Lopez) brought in two Cuban coaches Pedro Pacheco and Raul Fernandez during our time and we came through with two bronzes and a silver in the Olympics,” he continued. “We don’t mean to displace our local coaches who are doing a good job. We only want to upgrade our techniques and knowledge of the game because other countries are progressing faster than us. We need to enlarge our talent pool so our chances of qualifying in the Olympics are greater.”

Failing to qualify an entry in women’s boxing, to be introduced here with three gold medals at stake, was a disappointment, said Daza. “There was a lot of drumbeat about a woman boxer winning our first Olympic gold medal so when we didn’t even qualify, it was a sad development,” he said. “I thought the competition wouldn’t be too intense because some countries don’t do women’s boxing because of culture or religion. So it was a surprise that we didn’t qualify a single woman boxer.”

As for AIBA’s plans to accept pros in the Olympics through the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and the AIBA Professional Boxing (APB), Daza said it’s unfair to be exclusive.  “I think it’s a good idea for AIBA to bring in pros for the Olympics like in basketball or tennis,” said Daza. “That’s because of the success of pro fighters like Pacquiao, amateurs are more attracted to turn pro and we lose them for the Olympics. Let pros participate in Olympic boxing on a voluntary basis since they’ll be foregoing a lot of money and sacrifice for love of country. Allowing only pros who join the WSB or APB pressures that other pros can’t be patriotic. If pros are allowed to join Olympic boxing, it should be without restrictions. By what right does AIBA have to exclude pros who don’t participate in the WSB or APB? The world has shrunk. The rules of exclusion are primitive and obsolete.”

Daza disagreed with AIBA’s move to oversee pro programs like the WSB and APB. “You can’t mix the demands and needs of making money in the pros with the demands and needs of non-monetary objectives like patriotism and sportsmanship,” he said. “There must be a strong personal reason to decline pros who fight for titles sanctioned by the WBC or WBA or IBF or WBO. It’s unfair to presuppose that pros, other than those affiliated with AIBA, can’t be patriotic.”