Why doubt the authority himself?

Manny Pacquiao is in a unique position as a reigning world boxing champion and a senator. A few years ago, he came up with a proposal in the Senate to establish a Philippine Boxing Commission later expanded to include other combat sports, notwithstanding the presence of the Games and Amusements Board, the government agency under the Office of the President tasked to supervise and regulate the conduct of professional sports in the country.

No one is better qualified to conceptualize and justify the creation of this Commission than Pacquiao because of his vicarious experience as both a boxer and a legislator. He rose from rags to riches, working hard in the gym to polish his craft and become one of the greatest boxers of all time. Pacquiao has won 12 world titles in eight different divisions from flyweight (112 pounds) to superwelterweight (154), an unprecedented feat that will likely never be duplicated or surpassed and at 42, is still active in the ring. On Aug. 21, he’ll come out of a two-year hiatus to battle WBC/IBF welterweight ruler Errol Spence in Las Vegas in what could be his farewell outing. Through 26 years of professional boxing, Pacquiao has witnessed up close how the sport can turn the lives around of the poor, bring new hope to the less fortunate and fuel a feeling of euphoria, pride and honor among countrymen, regardless of creed, ethnicity or social standing.

Boxing is a sport unlike others and in the context of Philippine sports history, it is the country’s gold mine of athletic excellence. In Olympic history, five of the Philippines’ 10 medals and two of its three silver medals came from boxing. The first Asian world champion was Filipino boxer Pancho Villa and no sport has contributed even close to the number of world champions that boxing has produced for the Philippines. The latest count is the Philippines has been blessed with 66 world champions. Boxing, however, has its downside. Because it is a “confrontational” sport, boxers are vulnerable to injuries and it’s for this reason why it is heavily regulated. The introduction of the four-strand ropes around the ring, the reduction of world title fight limits from 15 to 12, the restriction of gloves depending on weight divisions, weigh-in procedures, the analysis of ratings to avoid mismatches and the presence of ringside physicians are among the safety measures in boxing. In the Philippine case, the ring injuries suffered by Pretty Boy Lucas, Renerio Arizala and Z Gorres come to mind as examples of why there must be insurance coverage and provision of health care benefits.

Pacquiao’s idea of a Commission was born out of his years of experience as a boxer and now that he’s a legislator, it’s timely for him to do something concrete by way of law to upgrade the status of the sport. To cite that other athletes may also be injured and the Commission must therefore be inclusive is irrelevant because boxing is an extraordinary sport that requires specific focus. It’s why there’s a Heart Center and a Kidney Institute – specialization is critical for a unique issue. To argue that boxing is a dangerous sport that may compromise the health of children is just as irrelevant. Boxing is an Olympic sport and an art and science. It is what made Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and yes, Pacquiao icons in sport. It has transformed lives. Boxing is in the Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa platforms. Surely, this argument isn’t sport-related but political. And that brings us to a critical point. Why put this bill under the gun at this stage when it’s all set for passage? Is it because Pacquiao is a strong candidate for the next elections and there is now a sinister plot to derail an initiative close to his heart? If this is true, then it is most unfair not to Pacquiao but to the sport that the country loves.

The argument that government money is earmarked for the Commission in these difficult times isn’t strong either. Why take it out on the Commission? We’re all striving for normalcy and boxing is clearly doing its share to provide livelihood for hundreds of unemployed fighters. If the Office of the President is overloaded with reporting Commissions, then cut back on unproductive holdovers but not at the expense of a relevant Commission. The plan is to seed the Commission then it intends to galvanize private sector support to push through with its development and promotional efforts. In a sense, this is an investment. GAB isn’t empowered by law to develop and promote sports. GAB chairman Baham Mitra has done an exceptional job supervising and regulating professional sports and must be cited as easily the best chairman the GAB has ever installed. But his hands are tied when it comes to developing and promoting sports which is why Pacquiao is calling for an empowering Commission. To add this function to GAB would be against the law. That’s why for the Thrilla In Manila in 1975, GAB chairman Louie Tabuena had to organize a separate committee to promote the project because GAB couldn’t do it by law. The same thing was done by GAB in the case of Luisito Espinosa’s fight against Cesar Soto at the Luneta in 1999.

Mitra said he’s amenable to a private Commission in the same way that the PBA was established with GAB as the regulating body. But the Philippine Racing Commission was set up by law under the Office of the President with GAB supervising its betting operations. Surely, if a Commission can be set up for horses, a Commission can be set up for boxers. Once the Commission is passed, for sure there will be collaboration between the Commission and GAB to capitalize on synergies. But first things first, the Commission needs to be approved without putting politics into the equation. Pacquiao knows best when it comes to boxing and how the country may benefit from its development. Let’s listen to him, show the respect he deserves and learn from his experience.