ABAP mulls training camp in England

MANILA, Philippines - The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is working out an arrangement with counterparts in Great Britain that will allow Filipino boxers to hold a three-week training camp at the latter’s elite facilities in Sheffield, England.

ABAP exeutive director Ed Picson said a crack team of nine Phl boxers will be sent to the British Amateur Boxing Association’s English Institute of Sport from July 25-Aug. 11 to train and spar not only with simonpures from England but also from two other nations that will be there at the time.

“Ang maganda niyan, hindi lang Great Britain ang makakaharap natin sa England, nandoon din ang mga boxers ng Germany at pag-alis naman nila, papalitan sila ng mga Uzbek (The schedule will permit us to face British, German and Uzbek boxers while we’re in England),” said Picson, who is arranging the deal with GB Boxing with help from British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie.

“This (having English, German and Uzbek training partners) will really keep our boxers busy and sharp so sinabi namin sa kanila (British boxing officials) na okay na yan, tuloy natin yan (This will really benefit our boxers so we told the British officials that we’re okay with it and let’s do it),” Picson added.

The list of boxers bound for Sheffield is still to be finalized at this point as ABAP is still trying out a pool of “candidates” for the Olympic qualifiers in September in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Olympic hopefuls include Victorio Saludar and Mark Anthony Barriga (49 kgs), Gerson Nietes and Asian Games champion Rey Saludar (52 kgs), comebacking ex-Asiad titlist Joan Tipon and Ricky Dulay (56 kgs), Charly Suarez and Orlando Tacuyan (60 kgs), Dennis Galvan and Nathaniel Montealto (64 kgs), and Delfin Boholst and Wilfredo Lopez (69 kgs).

The 12 have split chores in competing in two upcoming boxfests abroad, the Jackson Memorial Tournament on May 7-13 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the Korotkov Memorial on May 16 to 22 in Russia.

Aside from the Sheffield training, the ABAP is also eyeing a separate camp at either Kazakhstan or India.

“Talagang very busy ang ating mga atleta. We’re leaving no stone unturned para sa ating paghahanda sa Olympic qualifiers (Our boxers have a full plate ahead as we’re leaving no stone unturned in preparing them for the Olympic-qualifying meets),” Picson said.