Chowdry’s iron fist shames Asiad boxing

International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) president Anwar Chowdry of Pakistan flaunts his power shamelessly and his minions bow in blind loyalty to the despot who has ruled the sport with an iron fist since 1986.

At the 14th Asian Games in Busan, judges who owe their jobs to Chowdry don’t hide their bias in favor of Pakistan fighters. So far, four of Chowdry’s countrymen are in the semifinals with two more expected to advance. Assured of bronze medals as of Tuesday’s results were flyweight Nouman Karim, featherweight Mehrulla, lightwelterweight Asghar Ali Shah, and superheavyweight Mirza Muzafar Iqbal.

Karim made it to the semis at Filipino Violito Payla’s expense. Shah defeated another Filipino, Romeo Brin, in the quarterfinals to qualify for the semis.

At the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, four Pakistanis reached the semifinals although none fought for the gold. Thailand bagged five golds, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan three each, and India one in boxing’s 12 divisions.

In Hiroshima eight years ago, Pakistan fighters took home three silvers and two bronzes.

Pakistan is itching for a gold medal in Busan and it looks like Chowdry will deliver. He likes to play god and even if only one of Pakistan’s fighters hits paydirt, he will surely be revered as a savior.

Three Pakistanis were responsible for booting out Filipino fighters in Busan so far. Aside from Payla and Brin, lightmiddleweight Chris Camat was victimized by a Pakistan bet Kashif Mumtaz. Yesterday, Filipino middleweight Maraon Goles took on Ahmed Ali Khan in the quarterfinals.

Chowdry likes to be called "professor" by his subordinates. But former AIBA secretary-general Karl Heinz Wehr once said: "Chowdry should be stripped of his professor title as he wasn’t a professor but a normal teacher at a university – a completely unimportant person who sold key chains and other trinkets, climbing the ladder through corruption." Chowdry has a Karachi home and a condominium in Atlanta.

The Philippines’ disenchantment with Chowdry began when Onyok Velasco was robbed of a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Since the crime, former Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Mel Lopez has waged a campaign to clean up the dirt in the sport and bring an end to Chowdry’s dictatorship.

At the Mayor’s Cup in Bacolod in 1998, Chowdry was denounced by the local press as a corrupt tyrant and reacted by vowing to stamp out Filipino domination in Asian boxing. That same year, Lopez supported Chinese-Taipei candidate Dr. Ching Kuo Wu’s bid to unseat Chowdry at the AIBA Congress in Turkey. Earlier, Lopez spoke out at the AIBA Executive Committee meeting in New York and threatened to resign unless reforms are initiated. Lopez said "it was high time to fight dishonesty and corruption in the AIBA" as he exposed the "manifestations of dictatorship" in the organization.

Chowdry, however, would not be denied a fourth four-year term as AIBA president. He easily outpolled Wu, 78-38. Lopez said Wu would’ve beaten Chowdry if he only matched what the Pakistan despot spent. Chowdry, supported by alleged drug dealer and billionaire AIBA executive Gafur Rakhimov of Uzbekistan, paid for the travel and stay of at least 70 delegates in Turkey. Lopez then declined to run for a third term as Executive Committee member. His son Manny is now ABAP president.

Since Chowdry’s declaration of war against the Philippines, no Filipino fighter has won a gold in boxing at the Asian Games. And the country’s four boxers were wiped out at the Sydney Olympics. The Philippines had previously pocketed boxing medals at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympics.

To this day, the Chowdry "Mafia" continues to influence the outcome of bouts in international competitions. "Siya ang pumipili ng mga referees at judges," said former ABAP secretary-general Rene Fortaleza. "May sindikato sa loob ng AIBA. May mga alaga si Chowdry na referees at judges. Sila ang pinagsasabihan ni Chowdry kung sino ang dapat manalo at sino ang dapat matalo."

At the Asian Games in Bangkok, Fortaleza was castigated by Chowdry after he voted for Ng Pingko Singh of India over Sontaya Wongprates of Thailand in a flyweight semifinal bout. Apparently, Chowdry had promised his Thai hosts a victory for Sontaya. Fortaleza said Chowdry cursed him for picking the Indian.

In another incident, Fortaleza said he was called a "bastard" by Chowdry when he voted for Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan over Haider Ali Haider of Pakistan. Chowdry scolded Fortaleza in public and later suspended him from officiating in the finals.

Pakistan isn’t supposed to be a world power in boxing. But in Busan, Chowdry’s clout is evident. At the 14th Asian Games, Pakistan is lined up for a sackful of medals in the sport.