Editorial: World power but hard losers

Thursday, February 16, 2012

THE ugly riot that took place inside the boxing ring in Buenos Aires, Argentina last Friday speaks volume of how fans can become barbaric and proves that boxing can be such a cruel and dangerous sport.

Young Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero and members of his team were attacked by Argentine fans who could not stand to see their countryman, Luis Lazarte, getting knocked out and losing the interim International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title to a visiting challenger.

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The 21-year-old Casimero, after scoring a 10th round technical knockout (TKO) victory, ended up being attacked by a hostile crowd even before he was declared winner by the referee. Television footages showed how Casimerow, who is from Ormoc City, desperately tried to seek refuge in the hands of his trainer and team members, running around the ring bewildered as chairs, bottles and fists and kicks flew all over the place.

It was one of the most bizarre incidents in boxing, so violent was the riot that it immediately went viral on the internet and was the hot topic in boxing circle and fight fans, especially Filipinos who were outraged no end by the sight of their countryman so helpless and being assaulted thousands of miles away.

Luckily for Casimero and members of his team, including his promoter Sammy Gello-ani, they were able to get out of the ring alive and in one piece. The Argentine policemen, although they were not able to completely stop the attack, managed to get Casimero and his entourage out of the lynch mob and save them from serious injuries, or even death.

We condemn this attack on Casimero and his entourage in the strongest possible terms and urge Philippine government and boxing officials not only to lodge a formal complaint against Argentina, but to see to it that the guilty ones like members of the local boxing commission in Buenos Aires are sanctioned.

The Games and Amusement Board has written a letter to the Argentine boxing commission asking for an explanation on the whole incident. The Senate also moved to recall the Philippines' ambassador to Argentina while asking the Argentine ambassador in Manila to explain how local promoters failed to prevent the assault.

The country is still mourning the loss of young boxer Karlo Maquinto and now comes this horrible incident involving another Filipino fighter, attacked right inside the ring and his own life threatened by a ruthless mob in Argentina. Yes, Argentina, a world power in football but hard losers in boxing. What a shame!