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Friday, August 04, 2006
Clark eyed as boxers’ training mecca
By Dante M. Fabian
CLARK ECOZONE -- An international boxing referee has elated Clark Development Corporation (CDC) officials with announcements that his group has plans to promote Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) as a training ground for boxers.
Angelo C. Lopez, Jr., CDC public relations department manager said world-renowned boxing referee Bruce McTavish and his group are eyeing Clark as the country’s next boxing capital, saying its ecology-friendly state is suitable for conducting boxing trainings and competitions.
“At present, one of the thrusts of the present CDC management is to make Clark as sports-tourism destination to attract more local and foreign visitors inside the zone,” Lopez said.
A native of New Zealand, international boxing referee McTavish, told Lopez that boxing is one sport that Filipinos could excel in if only there would be avenues for proper training, complemented by good practice gyms or facilities.
McTavish, who has served as referee in world title boxing matches including those fought by boxing legends Muhammad Ali and other heavy weights, has been based in Angeles City and is married to former Clark Investors and Locators Association chair Carmen Tayag-McTavish.
Lopez quoted McTavish as saying “Clark is the best area for holding training for amateur boxers because of the serenity of the economic zone which makes it conducive to training, especially would-be world class boxers.”
Lopez said McTavish and his group are now scouting for an area inside the economic zone for the construction of an arena which will be used for staging boxing matches and at the same time serve as a training gym for boxers.
Lopez said boxing events in Clark would definitely be a crowd drawer because of the Filipinos’ love for the sports.
“The success of Manny Pacquiao is instrumental in the renewed interests of the Filipinos on the sports as more athletes, especially in Pampanga, are aiming to become world-class boxers similar to what Pacquiao has achieved,” Lopez said.
Although boxing is becoming one of the well-loved sports in the country, Pampanga has very limited training facilities for would-be boxers, prompting athletes from the province to train in other areas.
(August 4, 2006 issue)
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