1st Mayor Bing Inter-Cities Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament set

BACOLOD CITY, Oct. 11 (PNA) - To provide venue for aspiring boxers not just in Bacolod but all over the country, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will officially open the 1st Mayor Bing Inter-Cities Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament on Oct. 15-16, 2008 at Robinsons Place Bacolod.

There are 13 categories with a total of 52 players from the participating teams in General Santos City, Bago City, Cadiz City and Bacolod City.

General Santos Amateur Boxing Association President and former coach and discoverer of world champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao will grace the two-day amateur boxing tournament.

Local chief executives and representatives of invited cities, Amateur Boxing Association of Bacolod (ABAB) President Ricardo Villanueva and the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) General Secretary and ABAB Consultant Greg Jimena will also grace the tournament.

Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Goldwyn Nifras, on the other hand, said the tournament is in line with the 29th MassKara Festival and part of the city’s sports program.

The amateur boxing tournament is also sponsored by the Robinsons Place Bacolod.

“The tournament will provide more experience and exposure for aspiring boxers. Also it will give additional attraction and entertainment to the people,” said Nifras.

He added that the city intends to make the tournament an annual or semi-annual activity for amateur boxers.

“This is the mayor’s effort to support sports (in general) in the city and boxing in particular. We know the enthusiasm and interest of the mayor as far as boxing is concerned, if we could convince more sponsors to join us, we hope to do this often next year," said Nifras.

Moreover, The tournament is also a way of discovering new talents and boxers, just like the adopted son of Bacolod, Manny Pacquiao, to play and develop later as world champions for the country.