Imagine bitter rivals Ateneo and La Salle going at each other in a boxing competition in the country's premier collegiate league.

That would be an interesting lot.

Actually, it’s just one of the reasons why Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson is making a pitch to UAAP officials to make boxing as a demonstration sport in the league in the near future.

He actually offered it to UAAP president Anton Montinola of Far Eastern University when they graced the PSA Forum last Tuesday.

While it provides another avenue for La Salle and Ateneo athletes to flaunt their athletic skills, staging boxing in the UAAP – whether it be in the collegiate or high school – will give young boxers the opportunity to study in a prestigious school while pursuing a career in boxing.

"I feel this will foster not only fierce but also a friendly competition," said Picson. "Palagay ko naman walang problema ito sa mga school leagues and the ABAP will make a formal proposal (to the UAAP)."

Montinola, however, bared that it needs the nod of four of the eight participating schools to make boxing a demonstration sport with the high school level as a suitable launching pad.

"Our rule states that we need four schools to volunteer to make it a demo sport," said Montinola. "I think high school would be a place to start for amateur boxing. It would be too late for college."

The NCAA has already announced its intention of including boxing and two other disciplines as demonstration sports for this season.