DAVAO CITY — The handler of Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight champion Carlo “Ferocious” Magali expects a new date for his ward’s championship fight against the undisputed WBC World super featherweight champion Miguel “El Alacran” Berchelt.
This developed after the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) disapproved their request to shorten Magali’s rest period.
Magali (23W-9L-3D, 12 KOs) is already set to challenge Berchelt (32W-1L-0D, 28 KOs on February 10 at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico under the Zanfer Promotions of Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran.
But the GAB, acting upon the recommendation of its boxing and medical division last January 25, disapproved the request of Magali’s manager Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Santig had wanted the GAB to shorten his boxer’s rest period of 45 days from his previous fight which he won by a 10th round technical knockout against Japanese challenger Masatoshi Kotani last January 13 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
But Magali’s last fight was not considered an easy fight or a light punishment by GAB boxing chief Dioscoro Bautista and thus, Magali was not qualified for the shortened rest period.
GAB said Magali will be 17 days short of the 45 days mandatory rest period on Feb. 10.
“We respect GAB’s decision. Maganda i-postphone na lang yun laban para wala tayong ma-violate na rules (It is better to postpone the fight so that we will not violate the rules),” said Santig.
GAB Chair Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra, however, assured that they will gladly process Santig’s application accordingly should the fight be rescheduled to comply with the rules of the board.
Aside from Mitra, the two other members of the GAB Board are Commissioners Ed Trinidad and Mar Masanguid. (Lito delos Reyes/PNA)
