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WITH the
phenomenal success of “People’s Champ” Manny Pacquaio
and the strides other Filipino boxers are making in the
international arena, a legislator is seeking the
establishment of a new governing body intended only for
boxing.
House
Bill 4334, or the Boxers Act of 2008, is seeking the
creation of the Philippine Boxing Administration,
absorbing the functions of the Games and Amusement
Board, as well as other entities related to boxing.
Under
the measure filed by Party-list Rep. Narciso Santiago
III of the Alliance for Rural Concerns, the
administration, in the performance of its functions,
should be guided by its mandate to protect the boxers
from physical and financial exploitation.
The
administration shall be tasked to prevent, curtail or
prohibit promoters from deducting large percentages of a
boxer’s purse for their own use, coercing boxers into
signing long-term, onerous contracts as a condition for
competing.
The
promoters shall also be prevented from forcing boxers to
hire an associate or relative of the promoter; and
illegitimate ratings systems wherein organizations
sanction rank boxers and award “championship titles”
based on a boxer’s personal connections rather than his
win/loss records.
Santiago
said the popularity of Pacquaio and the successful
forays of other local boxers abroad has attracted the
youth, especially those from poor families, to take up
boxing as a means of livelihood and escape poverty.
“Boxing
has now become one of the popular sports in the country
and that local boxers competing in international matches
have caught wide media attention,” Santiago said.
However,
Santiago said, due to lack of proper guidance by the
government, unscrupulous individuals acting as promoters
and managers have taken advantage of these budding
boxers, both physically and financially.
Santiago
said the creation of the administration will strengthen
the country’s standing in boxing and ensure the welfare
of boxers.
He
lauded Filipino boxers for their professional records
saying that in Asia they have paralleled, if not
surpassed, records of those from Thailand and Japan.
“Worldwide, they have competed against Mexico and other
Latin American countries known as breeding grounds of
ring warriors,” Santiago said.
He said
Filipino boxers have shown they indeed possess the
physical strength, skills and talents that, if given
proper support by the government, will potentially place
them in the top ranks. |
