MAYOR Monico Puentevella said the City Government will soon revive the inter-barangay boxing tournament at the public plaza -- an offshoot of Bacoleña boxer Riza Pasuit finishing bronze in the just-concluded 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Puentevella, who spearheaded the "Golden Gloves" when he was still a congressman, said he wants to see and discover new boxing talents who might follow the footsteps of the city's homegrown world champions.

Among the local boxing icons, who are being looked up to by many aspiring boxers, are WBO junior flyweight champion and longest reigning Filipino titlist Donnie Nietes of Bacolod City and Murcia, Barangay Banago's Joan Tipon and Reynaldo Galido, who both reigned in the SEA Games and Asian Games during their prime.

Pro-boxers and former SEA Games standouts Millegen brothers from Barangay Pahanocoy and Barangay Punata Taytay pride and undefeated WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion Genesis Servania, are products of the "Golden Gloves."

Puentevella, a former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman, and sports commissioner, also gave his thoughts on the recent sixth over-all finish of the Philippines in the 28th SEA Games.

"Our population is almost the same as Thailand - 100 million. They have 95 golds while we have 29. Singapore, on the other hand, has more than five million people and they have 84. What can we say? By now, our officials should know what to do," he said. (HGD)