WITH the pullout of one of his boxers, boxing promoter Raffy Panagan has set his sight on Amor Tino to carry the cudgels for local boxers when they see action in a February bout.
Kapangan's Nathan Bolcio could have been the main event for the fight that evening but due to a still unspecified leg injury, the boxer who holds a record of seven wins against a solitary loss and a draw is set to take a vacation to rest his 'injury'.
"The kid has a lot of promise in him. In fact, we have lined him up for the February edition of the Great Fights at the Heights and one in March which is for the WBO Youth championships," said Panagan.
Panagan told Sun.Star Baguio that Bolcio wrote him sometime last week to signify his intention of taking a vacation because of an injury which needs attention and a lot of rest.
"I was surprised about the letter because he never told me about it and he immediately left after submitting his letter. Wala na nga kaming contact sa kanya ngayon eh," added the boxing promoter.
A portion of Bolcio's letter in Ilocano states that he wants to rest his leg injury, saying he sustained three during his last fight and at the same time to re-think of his future plans.
Panagan, on the other hand, is afraid the Games and Amusement Board is set to study Bolcio's fate in the days to come.
"Mas mabigat yun kasi he will be asked to submit himself to an executive check-up, and it will cost Bolcio too much. If they cleared him to fight, he might be able to get a suspension for a period of three months to one year because there is a repercussion for his actions," he said.
However, Panagan is still hopeful Bolcio would immediately return to training because his hopes of being a world champion in the near future are at stake.
Panagan, a former councilor, has been at the forefront of promoting local boxing and has produced national class professional boxers over the years. Some seven years ago, he sent Ifugao Ricky Gayamo to the WBC-International title.
Panagan said he has arranged instead a fight for Amor Tino, a promising boxer from Kibungan, Benguet in the upcoming February Great Fights at the Heights.
Tino is set to face Elorde Stable's Jaypee Ignacio, one of the country's most promising young boxers.
Also in the offing is Tino's stable mate, Javier Malulan who is set to face Cebuano Rodel Quilaton.
Malulan is a 22-year-old super flyweight who holds a 12-win, six-loss record with seven of his victories coming by way of knockout. Seven other bouts are scheduled for the February match, which according to Panagan is still under negotiations.