ABAP Visayas slugfest on today

CEBU, Philippines – The region's aspiring pugilists open their bid for supremacy today as the 2010 Smart-ABAP Visayas Amateur Boxing Championships gets underway at the Mandaue City Plaza Square.

A total of 21 cities, municipalities, private clubs and provincial squads combined are set to see action in the five-day slugfest bankrolled by Smart Communications and sanctioned by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).

Leaving no stone unturned in its bid for the overall title, host Mandaue City fields in three teams, while defending champion Cebu City, which is backed up by Omega Pain Killer, is sending two equally-competitive squads.

The other Cebu-based teams include Sanai Boxing Club, Philippine-Australia Boxing Club and Consolacion selection.

The rest of the entries expected to give the Cebu City Niños a tough challenge are Bago, Bacolod, Maasin, Boracay, Cabatuan of Iloilo Province, Dumaguete, Bayawan, Bais, Tagbilaran, Sipalay, Sagay, Candoni, Siaton of Negros Oriental, Matalom, Ormoc and Tacloban.

Should all the teams appear today, this will be the biggest field in three editions of the developmental tournament, so far.

Unlike in the now defunct Visayas Inter-City Developmental Amateur Boxing Championships, this event serves as a qualifier for the National Championships set early next year in Misamis Oriental.

Last year, Mandaue missed the regional finals yet it managed to fight in the na-tional battle via wildcard entry.

The regional qualifying features two divisions - the juniors for athletes aged 15 to 16 years-olds and the youth for 17-18 fighters.

Before the ring hostilities erupt, a simple opening ceremony will take place to be graced by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and ABAP executive director Ed Picson. (FREEMAN)