25 teams vie in Leyte amateur tiff

MANILA, Philippines - More than 25 boxing teams representing various provinces, cities and municipalities in the Visayas are gearing up for the first Smart/ABAP Area Boxing Tournament set March 22-27 in Ormoc City and Kananga town in Leyte.

Rep. Monico Puentevella, who hosted the successful National Amateur Boxing Championships in Bacolod early this year, said Bacolod will field in a full roster to defend the overall championship in the event.

The tournament is one of the many events lined up by the ABAP to discover talents in the countryside. It is open to boys from the kids (11-12 years old) to the youth category (under 19 years old).

The Leyte competition will give aspiring boxers in the countryside all the opportunities to surface and be recognized and hopefully be part of the national pool.

Hosts for the Visayas tournament are brothers Eric Codilla, Mayor of Ormoc, and Elmer Codilla, chief executive of Kananga town.