Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain has acted swiftly on what was termed “an influx of complaints” regarding agency officials acting as judges in fight cards here and abroad which is regarded by some quarters as illegal.
In a board resolution the GAB announced a “strict prohibition” against GAB officials and employees “to act and perform duties/functions as ring officials during boxing promotions/events” unless written authority is granted by the chairman or his authorized commissioner.
The GAB board resolution said the prohibition was introduced “in order not to be the object of criticism.”
In another move aimed at preventing mismatches, unauthorized fights abroad and ring deaths the GAB has approved a resolution requiring boxers going abroad for fights to provide three specific sets of documents.
1. Official, authenticated and original Philippine passport, official, authenticated and original International passport and official and original rubber-stamped “authority to fight” in a foreign country and authenticated with a dry seal GAB logo by the chairman or his authorized commissioner.
The GAB said “records show there are still many professional Filipino boxers who engage in title or even non-title fights or accept a fight abroad without a written “authority to fight” from the chairman or his authorized commissioner that leads oftentimes to ‘ring death’ incidents.”
The resolution maintained that the steps were necessary to “prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents which might include ring deaths as a result of mismatching and other illegal acts or omissions by unscrupulous persons.”
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