The Filipino boxers' show of dissent in the men's boxing finals of the Southeast Asian Games may not sit well with some but RP delegation officials, led by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, believe the move just might rescue the sport hounded by the trading of cheating allegations for so long.

“We came here to compete not only for the gold but compete in the spirit of fair play. But this is too much. We have to put a stop to it (cheating),” Puentevella, the RP chef de mission, was quoted as saying in a pooled report from the Philippine delegation in Thailand .

The boxers' decision to “retire” from their matches was apparently triggered by decisions allegedly favoring Thailand in the women's boxing finals Wednesday night when only one RP bet won the gold medal by knockout, while others lost on points at the Tumbon Mueangpug Stadium.

Mitchel Martinez of Bacolod and Bago City was allegedly among the victims of biased judging, losing a one-sided fight to a Thai boxer in the women's lightweight finals.

‘TOO EMOTIONAL'

But the walkout staged by six Filipino boxers, including five from Negros Occidental, did not get the support of Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, another report from the RP delegation said.

“What should have been done is to take a step back, draw a deep breath and not let emotions affect your decision,” said Ramirez, who was on his way to Bangkok from Manila when the move was made.

“We were too emotional and that, I believe, is not the right route to take, especially in an international sporting competition such as these Games,” the PSC chief added.

Ramirez said the boxers should all have been made to fight because it was the sporting thing to do.

“If they (Thais) were not fair, we should not have gone down to their level,” he said.

Ramirez further said there are rules of engagement that could have been explored, like filing formal complaints.

He said he feared repercussions in the country's future participation in the biennial meet, that's why sobriety and level-headedness should have been exercised.

TWO-YEAR BAN

A report on the website of the Bangkok Post said that International Amateur Boxing Association president Ching Kuo Wu of Taiwan threatened the Filipinos with a two-year ban, if its remaining boxers follow the tack of Godfrey Castro of Cadiz City and Junel Cantancio of Bago City, who showed up for their title fights but immediately surrendered at the start of the first round.

Due to Wu's intervention, Bago pugs Junie Tizon and Joegin Ladon and Orlando Tacuyan Jr., whose father is from Bacolod City , and Maximino Tabangcora fought against their Thai rivals but also retired either in the first or second rounds.

Only Larry Semillano, also of Bago City , finished his fight with Olympic champion Manus Boomjumnong only to lose, 10-4, in the super lightweight finals.

‘INFERIOR BOXERS'

The same Bangkok Post report quoted Gen. Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand, as saying there was nothing wrong with the judging.

“The Philippines ' boxers were inferior to the Thais because they were from their B squad,” Taweep said.

''If they send their second-string team, they can't expect to win,'' Taweep said.

The Philippines opted to rest top guns Harry Tañamor, who has already qualified for the Beijing Olympics, Asian Games gold medallists Violito Payla and Joan Tipon and Genebert Basadre for the SEA Games.

Except for Payla, the boxers won gold medals in the 2005 SEA Games in Bacolod City .

''I don't know what they are trying to achieve by doing this (sending the RP Team B),” Taweep said.

“There was nothing wrong with the judging,'' the Thai boxing executive insisted.

In the same report, Jordanian referee Taha Mah Joub Yassi Alfityani also insisted that the fights were judged fairly.

Vietnamese referee Van Hung Le also told the Bangkok Post: ''The Thai boxers were better than the Filipinos.''*CPT

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