AS the professional boxing in Cebu reaches unprecedented heights, the amateur rank on the other hand, is in an alarming state.
“It is alarming to note nga sigi na tag pildihon sa mga boxers gikan sa laing lugar. Latest namo gi-invite mi sa Bohol, out of 12 boxers tulo lang ang naka-daug. That is why our chairman sir ALA (Antonio L. Aldeguer) was happy when he learned that sir Chao (Sy) was planning to intensify the boxing program of Cebu, so this concept, the Cebu Amateur Boxing Revival (CABR) was born,” ALA Gym trainer and CABR operations in-charge Peter Cuizon said.
Yesterday, the CABR was formally launched at the Scoop-Cebu Forum held at the Belly Dancing Room of the Cebu City Sports Center and was attended by Amateur Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) Region 7 director and Lorenzo Chao Sy, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Executive Assistant Boobi Kintanar, Cuizon and coaches from the participating boxing clubs.
“I am very thankful to Mr. Aldeguer for helping me make this project a reality. Because of the sad state of our amateur boxing, I just feel that having this program is just the right thing to do. I’ve been in boxing since the 80s and we used to be the boxing hotbed. But suddenly, we’re at the bottom. And now that I am in a position to do the right thing for the future of Cebu boxing,” Sy said.
Pro boxers Junriel Jimenez and Kevin Jake Cataraja, who were among the last batch of Cebuano boxers who won gold medals for the Cebu, shared the sentiments of Cuizon and Sy as they now lead the training of their respective gyms.
Jimenez is handling the kids at the Cebu City Sports Center Boxing Gym, while Cataraja is one of the trainors at The A Gym. They join eight other boxing clubs that will see action this Saturday at Cebu City Hall’s Plaza Sugbu.
Kintanar, meanwhile, assured the coaches that through the leadership of chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the status of amateur boxing in Cebu will be back to where it used to be, with their comprehensive plans and program.
The other gyms who will be seeing action in the 12-bout inaugural meet this Saturday includes Phil-Aust Boxign Club, Talisay Boxing Club, Labogon Boxing Club, Wakee Boxing Gym, Big Yellow Boxing Club, and the CCSC Boxing gym. (RCM)