By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Noli Flores has promised that the GAB will not sanction the WBC Youth and Asian Boxing Council minimum weight title fight between undefeated champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand and comparative unknown Jerry Duaso of the Philippines.
Flores said the GAB had not received any application for the title fight scheduled for October 28 in Thailand. Flores said “if they submit it to this office later, we will not consider nor approve the fight.”
Flores was responding to concern expressed by Viva Sports over the mismatch between Oleydong who has a record of 17-0 with 7 knockouts and Duaso who has, according to reports from Bangkok as well as the Phil Boxing website, a record of 6-3-2 with 2 knockouts.
Viva Sports pointed out to Flores that Oleydong had beaten twelve Filipino boxers, many of them currently ranked by the GAB including Philippine flyweight champion Federico Catubay.
Oleydong won his last title defense via a third round knockout while Duaso lost a ten round majority decision to a comparative newcomer Ryan Bito. GAB Chairman Eric Buhan recently returned together with GAB’s chief physician Dr. Nasser Cruz from the WBC Convention in Spain where the issue of mismatches was taken up.
