Thais bar RP fighters from elite King’s Cup

Thailand, in a move that caught RP boxing officials by surprise, barred the Philippines from participating in the 29th King’s Cup boxing tournament, one of the host country’s premier boxing events slated April 5-10 at The Mall Ngarmwongwan’s MCC Hall in Bangkok.

In excluding the Philippines from the elite list of entries that includes China, Russia and Mongolia, the Thai officials cited the roster has already been filled up and that the ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Phils.) submitted its entries late.

"This is the first time that it happened," said boxing chief Manny Lopez. "Normally they would accommodate us even if we don’t submit entry forms."

It was a big blow to the RP boxers’ buildup for the SEA Games, which is set in Thailand in December, as the Philippines would have fielded in a power-packed line-up composed of 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalists Joan Tipon and Violito Payla and bronze medal winner Genebert Basadre along with the comebacking Harry Tañamor and Delfin Boholst, Wilfredo Lopez and Charlie Suarez.

RP head coach Pat Gaspi said the Thais must have been wary of the Filipinos, who have beaten the Thais in the number of gold medals won in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games, 8-4, and in Doha, 2-1.

It also didn’t help that a Thai newspaper recently reported that Tipon and Payla had tested positive for banned substance. ABAP officials denied the charge.

Meanwhile, Albert Fabila captured a gold medal while Froilan Saludar and Basadre silver and a bronze, respectively, in the International Senior Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan recently.