In an effort to keep boxing winning tradition in the Asian Games, 11
boxers (seven men and four women) will train for one month in the
United States to further sharpen their skills and broaden experience .
"The training is very important in their preparation for the Asian
Games I’m pretty sure the one month training will enrich their boxing
knowledge," said ABAP executive director Ed Picson on the eve of the
departure of the Asian Games-bound boxers.
Scheduled to depart for US aboard Philippine Airlines are Charley
Suarez, Recky Dulay, Delfin Boholst, Joejin Ladon, Gerson Nietes, and
the Saludar brothers, Victorio and Rey.
The women boxers are Annie Albania, Alice Kate Aparri, Josie Gabuco
and Nesthy Petecio.
Suarez, Ladon, Boholst, Albania, Aparri, Gabuco and Petecio won the
gold medals in the recent seven-nation 1st MVP Cup Invitational
International Boxing Championship held at PICC.
A veteran of numerous international boxing competitions that include
the 2006 World Boxing Championship in India and 2009 Asian Indoor
Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Aparri turned 26 last July 24.
Nietes won the bronze in the 2009 Thailand King's Cup and the 2010 China Open.
The Filipinos will train for one week at the University of San
Francisco through the invitation of Fil-Am coach Angelo Merino before
proceeding to Los Angeles to further hone up their skills at the
Nonito Donaire Gym.
While training in US, the Filipinos will compete in local tournament
sharpen their skills and broaden their experience.
The women boxers will enplane for Barbados to compete in the World
Women Boxing Championship where they match skills against crack boxers
from 70 countries.
Joining the boxers are ABAP president Ricky Vargas, secretary general
Patrick Gregorio, Pecson, and the four-man coaching staff composed of
head coach Pat Gaspi, Ronaldo Chavez and the Velasco brothers Nonito
and Roel.
Boxing won a total of 44 medals, including 14 golds in the Asian Games
since 1950, thus making the sport the winningest National Sports
Association.
In the last Asian Games in Qatar, boxing won two gold medals by Joan
Tipon and Violito Payla and two bronzes courtesy of Jenebert Basadre
and Godfry Castro. (Clyde Mariano).
