President leaves it up to Gordon

President Arroyo is keeping an open mind to a proposal by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon for the Philippines to host the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson world heavyweight championship fight here in Manila.

"I don’t really meddle in operational decisions but whatever my Cabinet members propose, we support them," the Chief Executive said yesterday.

In issuing the statement, President Arroyo said her administration’s policy has always been to respect the autonomy of her Cabinet members and has kept away from interfering on how her Cabinet members like Gordon do their job.

Filipino boxing promoters were up in arms against the proposal of Gordon who broached the idea of the Philippines bidding to host a sequel of the "Thrilla in Manila" which featured former heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in a title fight in 1975.

Boxing promoters argued that the government should better channel its meager resources to more productive efforts instead of getting into such big budgeted boxing project that guarantees no sure return on investments.

But time may be running out if Gordon, indeed, is serious in making a bid.

While Gordon, who is reportedly in Maldives at present, has yet to make public his final decision to offer Manila as a venue, other countries have already thrown their hat into the ring and may beat Manila to the draw.

Tyson could face Lewis in Atlanta in June after being granted a license to fight in Georgia, according to BBC reports.

At the same time, Games and Amusements Board chairman Eduardo Villanueva did not raise an objection to the Gordon proposal, saying the government agency is prepared to go full blast in getting the project off the ground if instructed by the President.

Villanueva realized the bid could reach $100 million but expects sponsors, particularly multinational companies, to help defray the cost.

Villanueva said once the Chief Executive gives her go-signal, the GAB will start working.

"We are awaiting the President’s instructions," he said.

Informed that local promoters are opposing the project, Villanueva said they should be consulted on this issue.

"If the project is approved, I hope to include Filipinos fights for world titles in the undercard," said Villanueva. "Of course, that depends on the budget. We should all be united in this project if it is approved by the President."

Plans for the original bout, scheduled for Las Vegas in April, were scrapped when the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to allow Tyson back into the ring there after a scuffle at a news conference in which Lewis claimed Tyson bit him.

A spokesman for the Georgia Boxing Commission told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Shelly Finkel, Mr. Tyson’s manager, contacted my office, he asked if I would send him a license application that he could get Mr. Tyson to fill out.

"I said sure. I sent it to him, Mr. Tyson filled it out, they sent me the required medicals, they sent me the money, we issued the license."

"I have been told by the Georgia Dome that a site fee of $13 million has been put up and a date of June 8 has been penciled in," said Tom Noshou, Georgia Boxing Commission administrator said.