Torre accepts Baste’s fistfight challenge

MANILA, Philippines — A few days after witnessing boxing icon Manny Pacquiao fight Mexican Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, Nevada, Filipinos might see another boxing match, this time between Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

Torre yesterday accepted Duterte’s challenge to a fistfight and said he wanted it arranged as a 12-round charity boxing match to benefit the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon.

“Maybe we can use this as an opportunity to raise funds in a charity boxing match,” he told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame.

Appearing excited to face off with Duterte, Torre said he wants the match held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 27. He also wants sponsors for every round.

“Let’s place their merchandise before each round. It will be 12 rounds so we can have more sponsors and we can raise more funds,” he said.

Stressing he is serious about the boxing match, Torre said he will start training at the PNP Gym today.

In a video message circulating on social media, Duterte challenged Torre to a fistfight.

“I can take you on, you are a coward. You are nothing without your position truth be told,” Duterte said.

Duterte has long been critical of Torre who led the arrest of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, last March based on a red notice alert from the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol.

The elder Duterte is detained in The Hague while awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in his war on drugs.

Should Duterte back off from his challenge, Torre said: “That’s on him. He was the one who issued the challenge. I only accepted it.”

Torre maintained he has no personal animosity with Duterte, saying he just wants to take advantage of the local chief executive’s challenge to raise funds for the victims of Crising.