ABAP starts boxing diplomacy with AIBA

MANILA, Philippines - Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines secretary general Patrick Gregorio and executive director Ed Picson will fly to Chinese Taipei Wednesday to meet with the AIBA top officials in an effort to renew ties with the leaders of the world amateur boxing body.

“We’ll pay a courtesy call and present our credentials to AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu,” said Picson.

“We want to open the communication lines, cultivate good relationship with officials of AIBA and maybe invite them to come here in one of our regional tournaments,” Picson added.

Picson was referring to ABAP’s regional competition, which starts with the Visayas leg in Ormoc City and Kananga, Leyte this month, aimed at producing potential talents for the national team.

ABAP’s grassroots development program will also have stops in Mindanao and in Luzon.

Picson also said Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping may join them in their Taipei trip to lend a helping hand.

“Chairman (Harry) Angping said he wants to help. He speaks the language and we would be glad if he could come,” said Picson.

ABAP has been planning to mend fences with the AIBA since the new leadership chaired by telecommunication mogul Manny V. Pangilinan took over late last year.

“We need to improve our relationship with AIBA. That is one of our more urgent goals,” ABAP president Ricky Vargas said earlier.

“We need to have our boxers focused on what they’re doing and not get them involved in the motion of minding the referees and judging that takes them out of focus,” said Vargas.