POC brings Asiad boxing issue to OCA

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco is hopeful that the Olympic Council of Asia can find ways to make sure that boxing matches in major international events are decided fair and square.

The recently concluded Incheon Asian Games was rocked by protests from several countries that felt their boxers were robbed of victories in the crucial stages of the tournament.

The Philippines was among the countries that cried foul after two of its boxers, Ian Clark Bautista and Mark Anthony Barriga, lost to South Korean opponents.

Filipino boxing officials led by Ricky Vargas and Ed Picson felt they were robbed in Incheon.

A female boxer from India also took a very bitter loss to a South Korea, and during the awarding ceremony, Sarita Devi refused to accept her bronze medal.

For her actions, Devi is facing sanctions from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) headed by Wu Ching-kwo of Chinese Taipei.

Now, the POC president wants to take the cudgels for the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) in its call for fairer officiating in the events like the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

Even the Olympics is not spared by controversial decisions in boxing.

“I think the leadership of the OCA will look into this matter,” said Cojuangco yesterday.

“I will bring this up in my one-on-one talk with the OCA president (Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait) in November. This has to be looked into carefully,” said Cojuangco.

The AIBA has introduced major changes in the rules, including the use of a 10-point-must scoring system similar to the pro ranks. They have also done away with the headgears, causing more injuries.

Cojuangco said biased and unfair decisions in boxing is sending all the wrong signals.

“It’s not only losing. The athletes are also affected. And it’s not good. It teaches not only the losers but also the winners that this is the way it should be,” said the POC chief.

Richie Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, was at ringside at Incheon, and said the other night that unfair practices in the ring must stop.

“Otherwise, the OCA might seriously consider scrapping boxing in the Asian Games,” he said.