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Thursday, October 07, 2004
Bidoy Quits
By Mike T. Limpag
Sun.Star Correspondent
CEBU City’s amateur boxing program just got hit with a potential killer blow.
Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer, the acclaimed godfather of Cebu’s amateur boxing program, announced his resignation as boxing director for Cebu City after almost 20 years of service.
“It pains me to inform you that after about two decades of being associated with Cebu City amateur boxing, I feel it is high time that I relinquish my position as boxing project director in order to give others a chance to do what I have been doing for the past years,” Aldeguer said in a letter to Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Jonathan Guardo.
Knockout punch
For his part, Guardo said Aldeguer’s resignation “is a knockout punch” to the City’s boxing program.
Aldeguer continued in his letter that his “withdrawal is a healthy gesture as it will open up the field to a wider horizon for others to explore and perhaps, produce better results.”
Guardo said recent developments may have triggered the resignation of Aldeguer, who was head of the amateur boxing program for over 20 years.
Duplication
Recently, Councilor Raul Alcoseba received a go-signal and P106,000 from the City for a boxing program, a move which was criticized by Guardo as a duplication of the CCSC’s boxing program.
However, Aldeguer said Alcoseba’s new boxing program has nothing to do with his resignation. He said he just wants others to be given a chance.
“It’s healthy for the sport for others to put up another program. I relinquished my position because I don’t want to monopolize it,” Aldeguer said.
On the other hand, Councilor Jack Jakosalem said he will try to convince Aldeguer to reconsider his decision.
“This is a big blow for amateur boxing. There is no one who can match Aldeguer with his knowledge, skills and passion for boxing,” Jakosalem said. “No one has delivered as much as him and his loss is irreplaceable.
“It will have four effects: The boxers will be demoralized since they look up to him as sort of a godfather; second, with his skills and knowledge, maybe our training won’t be as good; third we won’t be winning as many tournaments, and because of that bringing in national events like the National Youth Championships will be hard,” Jakosalem said.
For his part Aldeguer his resignation will not affect his passion for boxing.
“They don’t have to ask me back, I am still here, I have not left. It’s just the title that I am relinquishing, my gym is still open for all boxers who want to train,” said Aldeguer. “I will still continue to do the things that I have been doing for the past years.”
(October 7, 2004 issue)
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