ABAP upbeat despite daunting task

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) has been left with no other choice but to tweak its recruitment program in line with the introduction of a revised weight class in the men’s category by World Boxing.

Newly-elected ABAP president Marcus Manalo told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday that the Philippines and the vast majority of Asian nations has been severely affected by the decision to reduce the number of weight classes in men’s competition from 11 to just seven.

The new format is taking effect as early as the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Gone are the 48 kilograms and 51 kilograms, weight classes where Filipino fighters excel in owing to their size.

“If you take a look at the Olympic medals won by the Philippines, most of them came in the lower weight classes that have now been removed,” Manalo lamented.

Since taking part in the Olympic Games more than a century ago, the Philippines has won a grand total of 18 medals, ten from boxing, four silvers and six bronzes.

Leopoldo Serantes, the Velasco brothers Roel and Onyok as well as Carlo Paalam won their Olympics medals at light-fly (48 kg) and fly (51 kg), weight brackets that have become obsolete at least for major meets like the continental games and qualifiers, world championships and the Olympics.

Even the first Filipino Olympic medalist — bronze medal winner Jose “Cely” Villanueva — took the bronze at bantamweight in 1932.

The seven weight classes approved for inclusion in men’s in LA are 55 kilograms, 60 kg, 65 kg., 70 kg., 80 kg., 90 kg. and +90 kg.

In the women’s, the weight classes are 51 kg., 54 kg., 57 kg., 60 kg., 65 kg., 70 kg. and +80 kg.

Manalo said that a lot of topnotch talents fight in the 48 to 51 kilograms and with the drastic changes in place, the ABAP will have to somewhat redo its talent identification to cater to those who are naturally bigger and somehow fit the Olympic standard.

Still, the ABAP is not doing away with the lower weight classes since the biennial Southeast Asian Games will likely retain them.

The national training pool is currently immersed in training at their high-altitude camp in Baguio City where the ABAP think tank, made up of top coaches Pat Gaspi, Ronald Chavez and Roel Velasco, are entrenched.

In the meantime, Manalo is already neck-deep in work following his election as the ABAP’s big boss.

The long-time ABAP staffer has a lot of things in mind, including the proposal to stage regular tournaments across the nation to ramp up grassroots development.

But the shadow of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan is starting to loom over his shoulder knowing that he has to deliver following the lone medal — a silver — brought home by Eumir Marcial from the rescheduled 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

And with all the weight changes taking effect in Aichi-Nagoya, he knows he is for a rough ride.

But with the coaching staff and the ABAP inner circle behind Manalo, victory could still be achieved.

Besides, he’s got a winning name.