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Saturday, October 23, 2004
Batawang stripped of RP junior-fly belt for title non-defense
VETERAN slugger Bert Batawang was stripped of the RP junior flyweight title in a resolution dated Oct. 18 by the Games and Amusement Board for Batawang’s failure to defend his title for a year.
“Honestly, it is my fault,” said Batawang’s manager Sammy Gello-ani. “I messed it all up. I thought Batawang’s fight last April 4 was a championship fight against Along Dinoy. I cannot blame GAB for the action but there is still time to make an appeal.”
But Gello-ani is worried about the schedule of his fighter since Batawang lost to Shingo Yamaguchi for the OPBF title last May.
“Kindly be informed that your valid extension of the Philippine title defense which is six month has expired on Oct. 4, 2004. Because of your failure to notify this board to defend your title on or before the above extended date and instead preferred to fight in Cape Town, South Africa for WBA Pan-African Championship, the board presumed that you are no longer interested to pursue your defense and therefore are automatically stripped of your Philippine title and it is declared vacant,” said GAB Commissioner Angel Bautista in his letter to Batawang.
“I was also caught between the delay of the schedules of the WBA Pan-African championship which was originally scheduled on Nov. 6 but it was postponed to Nov. 26,” Gello-ani said, blaming the postponement on the South Africa bout.
No mater what happens, Gello-ani assured that Batawang still has a chance to reclaim the title as he has the first option to fight for the title stripped from him. (RCM)
(October 23, 2004 issue)
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