Friday, March 30, 2007 Boxing patron wants to put up gym in La Castellana and Bago By Henry C. Villalva
FIL-australian boxing Patron PJ Magno de Best says he wants boxing gyms put up in places like La Castellana and Bago City, Negros Occidental "where boxing is very popular."
A former full-time amateur boxer himself who fought in 17 bouts with no defeats in his career and won 12 bouts by knockout, PJ was born in La Castellana and was raised in Australia where he trained and eventually indulged in amateur fights in the ring.
Speaking during Thursday's second session of the "SCOOP Interaction," TV show of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) Bacolod, de Best said he hopes to witness the full revival of Negros boxing "because Negros boxers are among the best in the world and are definitely the best in the country."
"Filipino boxers have the heart; they don't step back but keep on going forward unlike foreigners and that makes them special. Boxing, after all, is not just hitting your opponent; it's a scientific game which starts from the head," de Best emphasized.
Together with his cousin, Santi Magno and boxing official Guillermo Retiban of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) in the province, de Best urged televiewers to come and watch "Fight Night," an amateur boxing event featuring the boxers of Round 1 Gym, co-owned by Magno and de Best, and Team Xanga on Saturday, March 31, 6 p.m., at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Ccenter near the provincial Capitol lagoon.
"We urge boxing fans to come and watch this game so they can help raise funds for the grassroots development program of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association (NABA)," said Magno.
For his part, Retiban, who was tapped to be the event's coordinator, assured that "there will be no untoward incidents similar to the Celebrity Boxing in Manila because Fight Night will strictly follow the rules of amateur boxing."
"We've always told our boxers to keep the fighting inside the ring because boxing is all about discipline and character," said de Best who had previously donated money to help NABA with its equipment during the rehabilitation of the NABA gym at the ground floor of the Paglaum Sports Complex.
Tickets for "Fight Night" are priced at P50 and P100 and are available at the NOMPAC gate prior to game time.
