Relief in boxing distress

MANILA, Philippines — The pandemic has jeopardized WBO No. 1 flyweight contender Giemel Magramo’s bid to fight for the vacant throne as his battle against No. 2 Junto Nakatani at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo is postponed indefinitely after five resets. Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda sent word to Magramo’s manager Johnny Elorde to bring in the fighter two weeks before the contest to acclimatize and participate in promotional events but who knows when the Japanese Embassy will issue visas?

It’s been a long, arduous wait for Magramo with no end in sight. His chance to vie for the WBO crown was initially set last April 4. Then, it was rescheduled for June 6, July 22, Aug. 1 and Aug. 21. The latest advice from Japan is don’t call us, we’ll call you. “The coronavirus outbreak inevitably forced it to be postponed again – this time indefinitely – since it is still uncertain when Magramo will be able to enter and work professionally under the government’s strict regulation to avoid any entries of infected foreigners,” said Japanese matchmaker/journalist Joe Koizumi. “We earnestly hope the long anticipated Nakatani-Magramo bout will be realized within this year.” WBO International and Asia/Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, who is based in Thailand, said, “Japan is dealing with their government health guidelines and protocols…only local fighters are being programmed.”

Elorde’s wife Liza said the situation is beyond anyone’s control. “Giemel, of course, is frustrated kasi daming postponement and kawawa nga kasi peak na sa training tapos postpone na naman,” she said. “The Embassy is not giving visas yet and Japan isn’t allowing foreign boxers as boxing is only among boxers in Japan.” Despite the setbacks, Magramo continues to train on his own every day. Liza said they’ll sit it out and not arrange a tune-up. “Tingin ko, hindi na tune-up baka delikado at hirap kumuha ng kalaban kasi GAB requires malapit lang kalaban, yung walang taga-probinsya,” she noted.

Liza said the health/safety protocols make it impractical to stage boxing events even if allowed by the IATF under MGCQ. “Daming gastos,” she said. “Promoter will take care of swabs ng boxers and trainers, mga tatlo before a fight tapos ititira pa sa hotel ng mga ilang araw tapos walang audience, super laking gastos. Wala rin TV at sponsors so  -promote at we really need funds to support the boxers. We had promotions na natigil, dapat two WBO Youth championships in April and the fights sa Elorde Awards Night with Jonathan Taconing and Mig (Elorde).”

While boxing is at a standstill in the country, GAB chairman Baham Mitra is doing the rounds to provide assistance to boxers, trainers, matchmakers, seconds, referees, timekeepers and MMA fighters with support from DSWD and Sen. Bong Go. Last Monday, Mitra was in Cagayan de Oro to oversee the distribution of P5,000 and food packs to 99 beneficiaries. Sen. Go contributed P2,000 of the P5,000 cash gift, food packs and 10 bicycles. The week before, Sen. Go was in Davao City to provide relief to 63 boxers and trainers, distributing cash, relief goods, food, facemasks and medicine. Among the recipients were Mark Barriga, Edrin Dapudong and Vincent Astrolabio. Mitra was also in General Santos City to supervise the distribution to 86 beneficiaries, including Jayson Mama, Marvin Sonsona, Froilan Saludar, Jade Bornea, Aston Palicte, Mike Plania, Marlon Tapales, Joey Canoy and Harmonito de la Torre. GAB previously distributed cash and relief goods to 536 beneficiaries from NCR and neighboring areas. Boxers from Baguio and Cebu will receive their benefits next week.