Lewkowicz wants harsh sanction for Mexican agent

CEBU, Philippines - Sampson “Picasso” Lewkowicz, one of the most respected and influential boxing agents in the world, said the Mexican matchmaker responsible for the fiasco involving a fight of IBF International featherweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Genaro Garcia last week in Bohol should be ‘harshly’ punished for doing something that is inimical to the sport.

“He did wrong to boxing and he should pay a high price,” said Lewkowicz, who is in town bringing along with him the WBO championship belt of Johnriel Casimero (see separate story).

Lewkowicz said he will soon meet with WBC president Jose Sulaiman to push for any sanction, in a harshest possible term, against Mexican agent Hugo Correa for playing dirty tricks that tarnished the image ALA Promotions.

“He must be punished in a harsh way so that it would not happen again not only in the Philippines but in the whole world,” said Lewkowicz.

Correa put the ALA Promotions in bad light for sending in a ‘fake’ Genaro Garcia, who is not the one contracted by the country’s top promotional firm to slug it out with Bautista in the main event of “Pinoy Pride XII:Bakbakan sa Bohol” last Saturday night at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City.

Worse, the wrong Garcia showed up in the ring in poor form with no fighting style, forcing some of the fans at the general admission area to go home with just a minute gone by in the first round.

Upon discovering the mix up, ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer immediately called for a press conference to inform the public on the unfortunate incident. They also opened the fight free to the public and offered refunds to those who have already purchased their tickets.

Lewkowicz take his hats off to the righful action taken by ALA Promotions, even as he expressed full support to the Cebu-based boxing outfit.

“My best congratulations for the best action ALA boxing has to do,” said Lewkowicz. “I will give my full support to ALA Promotions and SSG boxing to give them good show. - THE FREEMAN