RP boxers lacking in uniforms, not in guts

DOHA — They came here to fight, not dress up like kings.

While some teams in the whole RP contingent have the benefit of having two or perhaps more sets of uniforms, the national boxing squad has got to make do with what little they have to give more to the country.

"Actually, four boxers are sharing the same uniform in the team. Now, the pants are torn but it doesn’t matter for me," said Payla, after putting away the token challenge of Indian Jitender Kumar Thursday to assure himself of a bronze and snap the country’s week-long medal drought in the Asian Games here.

"I can fight without any cloth, just for the country," said Payla.

Whether that jab was meant for his next opponent or the RP sports officials for their apparent neglect of the sport that has brought so much honor to the country, only the pint-sized Payla would know.

But boxing president Manny Lopez last week said that the ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines) indeed has been practically doing things on its own, like sending their fighters abroad for exposure.

"For about 11 international tournaments we proposed, I think only three were approved," said Lopez before he left for the Games last week.

Whatever, the sport has proved again its valuable contribution to a country reeling from a series of setbacks in various fronts here with Payla’s victory somehow inspiring the other RP bets that saw two more capture bronze medals in taekwondo.

But like a true warrior, Payla, 27, won’t stop until he finally gets the coveted gold.

"I’m preparing to fight Thai Somjit Jongjohor in the final. But I need to defeat the Chinese boxer first," said Payla, who has so far swept his first three matches in convincing fashion.

Truly, Payla will have to hurdle past Bo Yang in the semis Sunday to get a crack at the gold medal in the flyweight division with the veteran Jongjohor fancied to cruise his way to the final round against Katsuaki Susa of Japan.

But against Yang, Payla will be facing a tough Chinese fighter, the tournament’s biggest surprise thus far who stopped reigning Asian and World champion Lee Ok Sung, 41-21, in the other quarterfinal contest Thursday. However, Payla remains unfazed.

"I’ll just keep focusing on fighting," he said. "If I get the gold medal, I’ll receive P1 million."

Then, he could buy himself and his teammates at least five sets of uniforms.