As far as Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella is concerned, it doesn't matter who between the two Cuban coaches hired by the Philippine Sports Commission will be based in Bacolod City to train boxers in the province.

Puentevella, who has strongly pushed for one of the two Cuban coaches in Bacolod to strengthen the boxing program in the Visayas and Mindanao , said he will discuss the matter with Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and Amateur boxing chief Manny Lopez.

The two coaches are Juan Enrique Steyners Tissert and Dagoberto Rojas Scott. They belong to a pool of coaches outside of Cuba 's national boxing program but Lopez said the two have the experience and expertise to help the country's boxing program

“We will just wait. Any of the two (coaches) will do. The plan will be beneficial for us. Definitely, they will be able to help us in our effort to produce future Olympic champions,” the Bacolod solon said.

Puentevella stressed that the coach will also be tapped for other Visayan provinces as well as in Mindanao .

The assigning of a coach in Bacolod is just one of the thrusts to improve the country's boxing program, he said, adding that he is also pushing for the return of elementary boxing in the Palarong Pambansa under the Department of Education.

Lopez expressed confidence the coaches will be able to improve national boxers performance in international competitions.

“Based on our evaluation, these two are the best coaches who can help our national boxers in their training and preparation for various international competitions, including the Asian Olympic Qualifier and the Beijing Olympics,” said Lopez.

The pair has helped Cuba win two silver medals in the Olympics and two golds and four bronzes in the World Championships.

A former coach of the Cuban national boxing team, Tissert, 57, is a member of the National Technical Commission, which draws the training plans for the national squad. He was contracted to help the Spanish boxing team in 1992 for two years before returning to Cuba to handle the national boxing squad.

Scott, 41, has accounted for one Olympic silver medal and four bronze medals in the World Championships and two golds and one silver in the World Cup.

So far, only Harry Tañamor has clinched a spot in the Beijing Games with Bacoleño Asian Games champion Joan Tipon still seeking a berth.*CPT

back to top

Solon okay with any of 2 Cuban coaches
NOFA president wants ‘protection' for Fegidero
Denied thrice as a player, Boyet hopes to win title as SLR coach
Class '68 remains in the lead
Extreme sports event to make debu