The WBF has come out strongly in support of the campaign against mismatches involving Filipino and Thai boxers in Australia.
The issue of mismatches was recently raised by Viva Sports/Manila Standard following an uproar by Sydney-based Filipinos who deplored the fact that Filipino boxers with the exception of IBF Pan Pacific champion Ranee Ganoy were being mauled in Australia in terrible mismatches.
WBF general secretary Birdie Croucher in an email said the organization headed by Mick Croucher "assured our support of your campaign against mismatches in Australia h stressing that gone issue that is of great concern is the exploitation of foreign fighters, especially from Thailand and the Philippines."
The WBF general secretary said "not only does it affect the credibility of boxing in Australia but it leaves open the possibility of serious injuries to these fighters. We are committed to lobbying against this where possible."
Croucher also clarified that the fight which the WBF refused to sanction was the title fight between Rolando Gerongco and Dean Byrne and not Gerongco's previous fight against Lance Gostelow in which the Filipino was knocked out in the first round. It was Gerongco's 21st defeat in his last 22 fights while Gostelow registered his eleventh win against one loss with 9 knockout.
The WBF official also informed us that they request clearance for Thai boxers from the Thai Boxing Authority and not from the independent Thailand Boxing Commission since we (WBF) discovered that TBC has no statutory authority whatsoever and is susceptible to undesireable influences.
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