MANILA, Philippines - Nakatakdang magtungo sa Sabado ang isang seven-man Philippine boxing team sa Guiyang, China para sumabak sa unang AIBA China Open International Boxing Championship sa Abril 3-12.
Suportado ng Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. sa ilalim nina Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines chairman Manny V. Pangilinan at ABAP president Ricky Vargas, makakasabayan ng mga Filipino fighters ang mga boksingero ng 30 bansa, kasama na rito ang Cuba bago ang 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games sa Nobyembre.
Sasamahan nina national coaches Nolito Velasco at Ronald Chavez sina Gerson Nietes (48 kg. light flyweight), Rey Saludar (51 kg. flyweight), Aston Francis Palicte (54 kg. bantamweight), Charly Suarez (57 kg. featherweight), Jameboy Vicera (60 kg. lightweight), Mark John Rey Melligen (64 kg. light welterweight) at Wilfredo Lopez (69 kg. welterweight).
“We’re very hopeful that with this young team, we can gauge our strength for the coming Asian Games,” ani ABAP executive director Ed Picson. “We also have a string of other tournaments and training camps planned for the year to ensure that our boxers are prepared for Guangzhou.”
Mula sa Guiyang, didiretso naman ang mga national boxers sa Beijing kasama ang 19 nilang kakampi, kasama rito ang anim na female boxers, para sa isang 14-day training camp sa Shichahai Sports School.
“The camp is made possible with the help of the Beijing Boxing Federation,” wika ni Picson.