RP boxers fly straight to Milan from Havana

MANILA, Philippines - From Havana, five Philippine boxers will head straight to the World Boxing Championship in Milan Aug.28, with the rest returning to Manila a week from now for more training in preparation for the Laos Southeast Asian Games in December.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson, who accompanied the boxers to Cuba, said another trip is under negotiation with the Philippine Sports Commission to include women boxers for a stint in China.

“This is timely as the International Olympic Committee has officially announced the inclusion of women’s boxing in the London Olympics in 2012,” Picson said.

Bankrolled by PSC chairman Harry Angping and PLDT-Smart top honcho Manny V. Pangilinan, also the ABAP head, the national boxers, supervised by head coach Pat Gaspi and Cuban consultants Enrique Steyners and Dagoberto Scott, have slugged it out with top-rate Cuban and Venezuelan fighters right after they arrived.

Leaving Manila in two batches via Singapore and Paris last Aug. 7, the Filipinos flew in after more than 36 hours in transit, and had a Sunday off spent hearing mass at the old Virgen de la Merced Church in Havana Vieja.

The following day, Olympian Harry Tañamor, Joan Tipon, Genebert Basadre, Joegin Ladon, Charly Suarez, Rey Saludar, Aston Palicte, Jameboy Vicera and Gerson Nietes buckled down to work at the Bolleros gym, a rundown district with dilapidated facilities, poor ventilation and no electricity.

The Cuban national team trains there daily under the watchful eyes of their experienced coaches, led by acting head coach Honorato Espinosa, who once worked with North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol on his boxing program.

Raul Fernandez Liranza, another Cuban coach who spent time with the RP team, also welcomed the national boxers on their arrival. Liranza holds class at the University of Sports and has also returned to be part of the Cuban coaching staff, Picson said.

“The Venezuelans were in town and they joined the Cubans in testing the mettle of our travel-weary Filipinos,” Picson said. “The French had just left and their head coach expressed regret that they were unable to spar with our boys. The British were there a week before and the Brazilian boxers were scheduled to arrive end of the week.”