RING deaths and how to prevent them will be a priority in the Fourth World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention the country is hosting from November 9 to 16 this year.

According to Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain, the WBC wants to find ways not just to minimize but to totally eradicate ring deaths. “And that it [WBC] will ask the participants for help in crafting a fool-proof formula,” said Buhain.

“Ring deaths have continued to alarm the WBC, especially after the latest incident involving Filipino Lito Sisnorio. So they want this issue to be discussed during the convention, and find out what needs to be done to once and for all end this,” he added.

“We at the GAB are happy that it would be given attention as we also want no more Filipino boxer to end up in such a tragedy as what befell Sisnorio,” added Buhain, who is also the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) vice president.         

The former swimming star and chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said that GAB, through the directive of President Arroyo, is now closely coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration and the International Police to crack down on illegal promoters, who are responsible for such tragic incidents.

“Sa ngayon, talagang walang ngipin ang mga boxing organization against illegal promoters. As we host the WBC Congress for the first time since 1975, it’s timely to put the issues on the top of agenda,” Buhain explained.

Buhain said it is the WBC, led by president Jose Sulaiman, which insists that the issue be prioritized as the world’s top boxing leaders, respected promoters, former world champs and the biggest names in the sports gather in a four-day convention aimed not only to promote boxing but to come out with a resolution of the current problems hounding the sport.

He said that all world boxing federation, organizations and associations are united in the fight against illegal promotions and human trafficking and the WBC wants head the implementation of reforms in the sport. He added that the WBC is already coordinating with the other boxing federations to come up with a uniform measure.

Next Please

TALKS are ongoing for a possible rematch between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican poster boy Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pals show their sense of urgency

Talk ’N text coach Derrick Pumaren admitted he was disappointed about their last two defeats.

BORACAY—Can one school double up and win both gender divisions? Can one team from the south book an unprecedented fourth women’s title? Can a couple of universities cop a second title and prove their first wasn’t a fluke?

RING deaths and how to prevent them will be a priority in the Fourth World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention the country is hosting from November 9 to 16 this year.

IT’S summertime. And basketball camps, leagues and barangay competitions are bustin’ out all over.