by Nick Giongco
Boxing big boss Ricky Vargas admits that the national team has been on the receiving end of countless beatings that past couple of years but counters that it has cleared the cobwebs.
“It’s in good hands,” said Vargas during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at the Amelie Hotel.
“Napabayaan ko ng kaunti (I was remiss a bit),” said Vargas. “It was a bit disappointed on performance lately in some of the more notable games. But we are picking up.”
Boxing secretary-general Ed Picson was right there to support Vargas’ words, adding that they are reviving their talent identification program, something they were unable to execute lately.
Picson said an elite squad is bound for Bangkok to see action in the Asian championships next week.
“This is going to be a tough year for boxing,” said Picson, baring that aside from the Thai expedition, eight or nine more tournaments are on the pipeline for the squad that is aiming to lord it over the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
As this developed, Picson said boxing has yet to be cleared for inclusion by the IOC in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics owing to numerous issues surrounding the leadership of the AIBA.
“We’d know by May (or June) if boxing will be included,” said Picson. Boxing is the major producer of Olympic medals for the Philippines in its 100-year participation in the Olympics, having won five out of ten, including silvers each in 1964 and 1996.
