Amending Article 23 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines on Authority to Travel Abroad

October 17, 2017

GAB RESOLUTION NO. 021A-17

AMENDING ARTICLE 23 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING PROFESSIONAL BOXING IN THE PHILIPPINES ON AUTHORITY TO TRAVEL ABROAD

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2017-02; s. 2017, amended certain provisions of the 2016 Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, among the amendments is the provision on the authority to travel abroad, which now provides that only boxers who are rated from 1-15 by the GAB Ratings Committee and who have at least two (2) wins in their last three (3) fights, without counting the draws, may be authorized to fight abroad;

WHEREAS, the aforementioned requirements for authority to fight abroad aim to ensure the safety and welfare of the Filipino professional boxers;

WHEREAS, it has been observed that there are professional boxers who fail to meet the requirements above but may otherwise be qualified to compete abroad based on their fight records;

WHEREAS, there is a need to amend the rules pertaining to fights abroad to allow more opportunities for Filipino professional boxers to compete internationally, without compromising their safety and welfare; aScITE

Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED that Article 23 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines, as amended by Resolution No. 2017-02, s. 2017, be further amended to read as follows, to wit:

"ARTICLE 23. AUTHORITY TO TRAVEL ABROAD

Before a professional Filipino boxer may be allowed to engage in a title or non-title fight abroad, he must secure a written Authority to Fight signed by the Chairman or his authorized Member of the Board or representative. The written Authority to Fight shall be presented by the boxer to the boxing body, commission, or federation of the foreign country. HESIcT

Those persons who bring boxers abroad without the written authority or approval from the GAB shall be blacklisted and declared as illegal recruiters.

Generally, only boxers who are rated from 1-15 by the GAB Ratings Committee and who have at least two (2) wins in their last three (3) fights, without counting the draws, may be authorized to fight abroad. HEITAD

The Board, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may allow boxers who failed to meet the two (2) wins in the last three (3) fights requirement to fight abroad, subject to all the following conditions:

a) The boxer has at least two (2) wins out of his/her last five (5) fights;

b) He/she has at least one (1) win in his/her last three (3) fights; and

c) His/her last win occurred within one (1) year prior to his/her proposed fight.

All applications of Filipino boxers for authority to fight abroad must be filed in writing with the Board not less than ten (10) days prior to the Filipino boxers' departure for the venue of the fight and must be supported by:

a. Boxer's fight contract stating the name of his/her opponent, date, time, and place of fight, the number of rounds of fights, the purse, and the name of the promoter. A scanned copy or photocopy of the duly executed fight contract may be submitted to the Board, provided that the original copy thereof shall be submitted not later than ten (10) days after the fight. Otherwise, an administrative sanction will be imposed upon the licensee;

b. Complete medical requirements which include the following:

i. Urinalysis

ii. Complete Blood Count (CBC)

iii. Recent CT Scan of the Brain (not more than one (1) year at the time of application)

iv. HIV Test, Hepatitis C, MRI or other laboratory examination if required by the host country.

c. Official, authenticated and original Boxer's Medical Report Abroad (MRA) form which must be filled in and submitted to the Board upon his return;

d. Passport copy of the boxer and his/her accompanying persons such as managers, trainers, promoters or the boxer's duly authorized representatives requesting clearance to fight in and/or travel to foreign countries;

e. Affidavit or certification duly subscribed and sworn to before a Notary Public by the trainer or manager attesting to the fact that the said boxer has adequately trained and is fit to fight; and

f. Affidavit of Undertaking duly subscribed and sworn to before a Notary Public wherein boxers and accompanying persons promise to return to the Philippines after the conclusion of the fight.

Applicants for Letter of Endorsement shall personally present themselves before any Representative of the Board at least ten (10) days prior to the date of their departure. The application for Letter of Endorsement shall be supported by the invitation from the sanctioning body concerned and the fight contract. The said applicants must be holders of GAB licenses. They must also have been active in their profession for at least two (2) years prior to the date of the scheduled fight; otherwise, the application shall be subject to evaluation by the Chairman or his authorized member of the Board or representative upon submission of a notarized affidavit of undertaking. HSAcaE

Violation of the provisions of the Affidavit of Undertaking shall be sufficient ground for the cancellation of the guilty boxers' and/or accompanying persons' GAB — issued license and/or such other penalty as may be imposed by the Board.

23.1. World-Rated Boxer

A Filipino boxer who is included in the rankings of the World Boxing Council (WBC); World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) from 1-15 is considered world-rated and need not be included in the Philippine rankings to apply for a travel authority to fight abroad. The Board, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may approve or authorize boxers who are not world-rated but are rated by regional boxing bodies under the aforementioned four (4) major organizations from 1-15 to fight or spar abroad.

Current World and Regional Champions may be allowed to travel abroad to defend their title whether or not they won two (2) out of their last three (3) fights.

23.2. Six-Rounders

Non-rated boxers may be allowed to fight for six (6) rounds in Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, India, Dubai, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, London, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Hong Kong Ukraine, Ireland, South Korea and United States of America, subject to the following conditions:

a) The Filipino boxer and his opponent are equally matched based on their ring record;

b) He has not lost by KO/TKO in his last fight;

c) He has fought in the last six (6) months; and

d) Favorable recommendation from the GAB Boxing and Other Contact Sports Division.

23.3. Unrated Boxers

In the meantime that there is no rating for female boxers, the Board, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may authorize female boxers to fight abroad, provided that they comply with all the other applicable requirements for the application for Authority to Fight.

The Board, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may likewise authorize boxers whose weight classes have no ratings at the time of application to fight abroad subject to the other applicable requirements for the application for Authority to Fight. The same rule shall apply to unrated boxers fighting in World Youth or Regional Youth Championship contests.

In all cases, the Board shall evaluate the boxing records of the boxer-applicant and his opponent before approving the application for Authority to Fight.

23.4. Sparring Abroad

A professional boxer who will engage in sparring sessions abroad shall secure authority from the Board, subject to the same qualifications under Article 23, 23.1, 23.2, or 23.3 hereof, except for the two (2) wins out of last three (3) fights requirement.

A professional boxer who has previously fought in a boxing contest shall observe at least fifteen (15) days rest period and shall be subject to medical evaluation by the GAB Medical Section.

23.5. Boxing Officials Travelling Abroad

All ring officials officiating in boxing contests abroad must be duly licensed by the GAB at the time of such contest, otherwise, they shall be blacklisted."

The foregoing amendment shall be effective starting November 10, 2017.

SO RESOLVED.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this 17th day of October, 2017 at the City of Makati, Philippines.

APPROVED:

(SGD.) ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRAChairman

(SGD.) EDUARD B. TRINIDADCommissioner

(SGD.) MARIO L. MASANGUIDCommissioner

ATTESTED:

(SGD.) OFELINA C. ARTUGUEChief, Administrative Officer & Board Secretary