GAB insists Barriga, Suarez pro fighters

MANILA, Philippines - The Games and Amusements Board is standing pat and firm in considering Mark Anthony Barriga and Charly Suarez as professional boxers.

“I never act on issues like this unless I am sure,” said GAB chairman Ramon Guanzon yesterday.

Guanzon is scheduled to meet with Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson tonight.

Picson said ABAP will “cross the bridge (when they get there).”

Barriga, 21, and Suarez, 26, are the top two boxers in the national team. But by joining the AIBA Pro Boxing tournament, they have placed themselves in a predicament.

They are skipping the 28th SEA Games in June because of an APB event that coincides with the biennial event in Singapore.

The Philippine Olympic Committee said it’s a pity because Barriga and Suarez, bronze and silver medalists in the last Asian Games, have golden chances in the SEA Games.

But the ABAP president, Ricky Vargas, said they have other boxers that can win the medals in the SEA Games.

“We take full responsibility in our choices for the SEA Games,” said Vargas, adding that he and the coaching staff have full trust and confidence in their boxers.

Guanzon said a few days ago they now consider Barriga and Suarez, who inked five-year contracts with APB, as professionals.

And as such, the two boxers, as well as their coaches and trainers, must secure licenses with the GAB before they can compete in the APB tournament.

Guanzon said that “based on many indications,” the APB is professional because the boxers sign contracts, receive a guaranteed purse, and fight for six rounds and even more. 

But the ABAP insists that the APB is not a professional boxing body because the boxers don’t have managers and promoters.

Instead, the APB boxers remain under the care of the national federations, and that the APB is in fact will serve as qualifier to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Guanzon said it does not change GAB stand that Barriga and Suarez have become professionals when they signed up with the APB.

“We already know what steps to take if they (ABAP) insist otherwise,” said the GAB chairman ahead of tonight’s meeting.