By Nick Giongco
A buildup heavy on overseas competitions await the national boxing team as it revs up for its quest to dominate the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, head coach Ronald Chavez said yesterday.
After attending a crucial meeting over the weekend in Baguio City, Chavez believes that a blending of 70-30 (foreign exposure-training camp) should enhance the host boxers in their bid to win the most number of gold medals.
“I would like a preparation geared on participation in tournaments abroad because if they stay here, the boxers tend to take it nice and easy,” said Chavez, a veteran of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
“If they keep on practicing with each other, they don’t usually step up,” he said.
The blueprint for the SEAG campaign will be finalized in the third week of January and Chavez is already in the process of knowing the events that are scheduled to take place.
Aside from making sure the fighters remain on active duty in the months leading up to the Nov/Dec SEAG, training stints in Japan, Korea and China, are also on the pipeline.
Boxing officials had earlier reached out to Cuba so the Filipinos can once again avail of topnotch training but secretary general Ed Picson lamented that he didn’t even get an acknowledgment.
Cuba used to be the stomping ground of Filipino fighters who went on to compete in high-level slugfests like the Balado Cup and the Cardin tournaments.
As SEAG host, the Philippines is sending a full men’s team while assembling also a women’s squad as well as a youth crew.
Chavez, meanwhile, said that recruits from the Philippine National Games are ready to join the juniors while youth standouts have been absorbed by the elite.
Before the boxers are allowed to take a break for the Christmas holidays, the women’s team will compete in the world championships in India next month.
