HARRY TAÑAMOR

Light flyweight Harry Tañamor will lead the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) contingent to the World Boxing Championship set September 1-12 in Milan, Italy.

This was bared by ABAP executive director Ed Picson who added that the line-up of the team was formed after deliberations by the national coaching staff led by head coach Pat Gaspi following a series of eliminations involving local and international tournaments.

Tañamor is one of the nine boxers training in Cuba, where four others – bantamweight Joan Tipon, featherweight Charly Suarez, lightweight Joegin Ladon, and light welterweight Genebert Basadre – similarly made the grade for the RP squad.

Picson, who came back from Cuba last week, bared that the training has been going well with valuable sparring time provided by the Cuban, Venezuelan and Brazilian national teams. The five boxers will fly directly from Havana to Milan on Friday.

PLDT Global corporation, an international company under the umbrella of the giant PLDT-Smart conglomerate headed by mega-businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, is a major sponsor of the Philippine participation in the tournament via their mobile phone service Smart Pinoy, which services OFW's in Italy, Hongkong, and Singapore.

PLDT Global Corporation president Al Panlilio expressed elation at the chance to provide assistance.

“We feel honored with this opportunity to backstop our Filipino boxers in this epic international battle. We hope our humble contribution to this national effort will bring honor and pride to our people,” he said.

Picson said that while the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman Harry Angping funded the boxers’ trip, all other incidental expenses are being borne by Smart Pinoy.