Asian Youth boxing lures 26 nations

MANILA, Philippines - The 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships will feature 130 fighters from 26 Asian countries, including powerhouse China, North Korea and the former Soviet republics, when action begins March 10 at Subic gym in Zambales.

Top officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority have guaranteed the successful staging of the event with titles to be disputed in 10 weight divisions from 49 kgs (light flyweight) to 91 kgs (super heavyweight).

“We want to highlight this as a world class event,” said SBMA deputy administrator Raul Marcelo. “(SBMA) chairman Bobby Garcia has given explicit instructions to fully cooperate with PLDT-ABAP in seeing to it that all efforts are made to impress upon our foreign guests our unique brand of hospitality, organizational savvy, and the natural charm of Subic Bay.”

The ABAP-PLDT Philippine team has drawn from youth pool and will parade James Palicte (60 kgs), Jade Bornea (49 kgs), Ian Clark Bautista (52 kgs), Jonas Bacho (56 kgs), and Eumir Felix Marcial (64 kgs).

ABAP executive director Ed Picson said SBMA has given the air-conditioned venue an entire makeover with “a fresh coat of paint, comfortable lounges and locker rooms.”

Ample security personnel will also be made available to assure order in the event, according to Picson.

“We expect our guests to not only enjoy exciting and competitive boxing, but also everything that Subic Bay has to offer in terms of accommodation, entertainment and an environment of relaxation and the good life,” said Marcelo. “We are proud to partner with PLDT, Smart and ABAP in welcoming all our guests.”