Palace: 'No fight in Thailand policy' effective immediately

Friday, 06 April 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- It took the death of a young Filipino boxer for Malacanang to impose its authority. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita Wednesday announced that a "no fight in Thailand policy" adopted by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) was effective immediately.

Malacañang's announcement coincided with statements from Thailand's top boxing officials vowing to carry out stringent checks on all boxers fighting in that country.

The moves followed the death of Filipino super-flyweight Angelito "Lito" Sisnorio Jr. in Bangkok last weekend after he was knocked out by former world champion Chatchai Sasakul in a bout that had been described as a mismatch.

"Thailand boxing has failed on several occasions to request Filipino boxers to provide them first with their official travel authority or authorization to fight from the Games and Amusement Board," Ermita told reporters.

Ermita noted that the GAB had passed a resolution banning Filipino participation in any boxing matches in Thailand.

He said Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo had already directed Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez "to look into the matter, coordinate with Thailand boxing authorities and look at antecedents of how these things had happened even in the past."

Ermita said this was not the first time that Thai boxing authorities had allowed Filipinos to fight even without GAB's permission.

Ermita said GAB had issued an "urgent appeal" to all licensed managers and promoters "not to place the lives of their boxers at severe risk by violating GAB policies, for the safety of Filipino boxers."

GAB is charged with regulating professional sports.

Ermita quoted a report addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by GAB chair Eric Buhain on the case of Sisnorio. Buhain is Ermita's son-in-law.

World bodies informed

"Chairman Buhain reported that he had directed the GAB legal division to investigate the case and, if possible, to file cases against persons involved in such illegal activities," Ermita said.

Ermita said the illegal activity in the case was the "sending of professional boxers to fight in professional fights without going through the requirements of GAB."

The body has informed all international boxing bodies that the promoter of the fight would be held accountable.

"I was told by GAB that he has requested the National Bureau of Investigation to help in investigating the incident that led to (Sisnorio) going to Bangkok without proper authority from GAB," said Ermita.

According to Ermita, GAB suspended 11 Filipino boxers in 2006 and four other professional boxers and their managers and promoters early this year "for violating GAB regulations on participating in official fights abroad without GAB permission."

On orders of Ms Arroyo, GAB will meet to determine how much cash assistance should be given to the family of Sisnorio.

Mismatches denounced

"There's no sense in blaming the fellow who died already, but his family will be given cash assistance by the government through GAB," said Ermita.

In Bangkok, World Boxing Council (WBC) vice president Kovit Bhakdibhumi said rogue Thai promoters were endangering the safety of boxers by arranging fights without the approval of national boxing commissions.

"I feel very strongly about the death of Lito Sisnorio -- we don't want these mismatches," Kovit told Reuters.

"We have been warning the promoters in Thailand. Now, we will check every fight, even the warm-up bouts and the undercard fights. I don't care if the promoters are unhappy. That's not important."

GAB boxing division chief Nasser Cruz said he had received messages of support from other countries unhappy with the conduct of Thai promoters and called on Thailand to sign a formal agreement to ensure that prior approval is sought.

Kovit, a retired Thai police general, said he fully supported the GAB's proposal.

"We have to find out exactly what happened and stop this from happening again," he said.

"Maybe he (Sisnorio) was fighting too often. He had fought before without approval. We cannot let this happen in the future."

Sisnorio, 24, lost his last three fights before travelling to Thailand.

Lito home on Saturday

Cruz promised that Sisnorio's remains would be home by Saturday.

He said GAB would go to the bottom of the matter by making a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of the fighter from Koronadal City.

Source: www.inquirer.net

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