by Nick Giongco
Deciding whether a Filipino boxer merits a chance to fight abroad will now fall on the lap of Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Abraham Mitra following the unfortunate incident that struck Renerio Arizala in Yokohama, Japan last March 31.
“Ako na ang magde-desisyon sa bagay na ‘yan,” Mitra said.
Arizala, 25, suffered a sixth-round TKO loss to hard-hitting Japanese Tsuyoshi Tameda at the Osanbashi Hall of a non-title fight.
His purse was $1,500.
On the way to the dressing room after the defeat, Arizala passed out and medical personnel rushed him to the Yokohama Ref Cross Hospital where he underwent an emergency brain operation that removed a blood clot on his brain.
Two days later, the Masbate-born but Cavite-based Arizala started showing signs of recovery.
After a few days he began to entertain visitors, including Yokohama resident Kei Nidaira, who gifted him with a pair of running shoes and track suit.
Nidaira is a member of Jerwin Ancajas’ team and has since dropped by the hospital on a regular basis.
Mitra said the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) is arranging Arizala’s return to Manila by next week and there are reports that the injured fighter might even get an unspecified amount to help him when he resumes his life in the country.
As this developed, Mitra said he, and not the GAB Board as usually is the case, will be the sole decider on requests for overseas fights for Filipino boxers.
