Boxers go into seclusion on eve of draw

With the mobile phone of coach Pat Gaspi off, it could mean the RP boxing team wants to avoid any distraction and would rather have their fists do the talking atop the ring at the start of SEAG slugfest in Bacolod today.

The RP fighters have practically gone into seclusion after leaving their temporary quarters inside the La Salle-Bacolod campus to join the rest of the RP squad at the Kundutel Hotel here Saturday.

But Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez stressed the Pinoy pugs are in high spirits and both physically and mentally ready to launch their quest to regain the boxing crown in this biennial meet.

"There’s no more turning back for our team. We’re ready to go to war," said Lopez on the eve of the opener of what’s now the most cherished event for the Filipinos in the absence of basketball in the SEAG calendar.

Twenty-two bouts are slated today starting at 2 p.m. at the La Salle-Bacolod gym. However, fighters who will figure in those bouts will only be known after the draw this morning.

The weigh-in follows after the draw.

All nations except Brunei and Singapore are entered in the event but, just like in the previous games, the overall championship is a toss-up between Thailand and the Philippines.

The Thais are out to stretch their domination of the event while the Filipinos seek to relive their glorious moments in 1991 in Manila.

Seven proud sons of Negros, called the "Negros Magnificent Seven," are likely to lead the Philippine charge against Thai world-beaters and the rest of the boxing participants.

The seven Negros pugs are finweight Juanito Magliquian Jr., flyweight Warlito Parrenas, bantamweight Joan Tipon, lightweight Genebert Basadre, welterweight Mark jason Melligen, middleweight Reynaldo Galido and female lightweight Mitchel Martinez.

— Nelson Beltran

Others out to help Team Philippines improve on its one-gold showing in Vietnam in 2003 are reigning gold medalist Harry Tanamor, Joegin Ladon , Romeo Brin, Alice Kate Aparri, Analiza Cruz, Annie Albania and Jouvilet Chilem.

Thailand, which has gained in-road in the Olympic and world stage, is fielding in its best bets, including an Olympic medalist, a world champion and four reigning SEAG champions.

Indonesia and Vietnam are the only other teams fighting with a complete 14-man squad. Myanmar has seven male and four female bets, Laos seven male and two female entries, Cambodia seven males, Malaysia six males and Timor Leste three males.