THE AMATEUR Boxing Association of the Philippines starts evaluating its national athletes
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BAP Secretary-General Roger Fortaleza said yesterday it would be a tough task in choosing the most qualified fighters for the program as they still have scheduled foreign exposures needed for their evaluation.
While ABAP does not seed fighters who have the best credentials in previous performances, Fortaleza said the association will now look at the boxers’ past achievements in international stints, including the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.
Among those being eyed to make it to the “Magnificent Seven” of boxing’s Olympic training pool are Doha Asiad medalists Violito Payla, Joan Tipon, Genebert Basadre and Godfrey Castro.
Payla and Tipon went home with gold medals while Basadre and Castro each had a bronze medal.
The four boxers, however, have yet to be evaluated in terms of their willingness to undergo rigid training and conduct.
Four fighters — Harry Tañnamor, Romeo Brin, Chris Camat and Payla – competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics and ABAP aims to have as many boxers qualify for the Beijing Games.
“Gusto naming mas marami pa ang mga mag-qualify this time, kaya paghahandaan din talaga ang training program,” said Fortaleza.
The first Olympic qualifying, the World Amateur Boxing Championships, is scheduled on Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in the USA.
It has been almost 11 years since the sport – and the country – snared an Olympic medal when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco clinched silver in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
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