The Philippine Sports Commission confirmed that the PSC board approved the request of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, Inc. for financial assistance for their ASBC Asian Boxing Championships participation to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from May 21 to June 1.
The competition was originally set in New Delhi where an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases forced Asian Boxing Confederation to shift the competition to Dubai.
The P2-million funding covers expenses for airfare, accommodation, allowance, visa fee, and insurance. Additional funding of P714,750 was also approved to cover their quarantine expenses.
Josie Gabuco, Maricel dela Torre, Mark Lester Durens, Marvin Tabamo, Jummilardo Ogayre, Jere dela Cruz, John Paul Panauayan, and Eumir Marcial will be accompanied by three coaches, a physiotherapist, masseur, and team official.
Close to a dozen Filipino boxers, including the three others bound for the Tokyo Olympics, have been training at the Thailand National Sports Center in Muaklek since March.
Eumir Felix Marcial, who trained for six months under a professional setup in Los Angeles, has yet to join the Philippine team in Thailand but is committed to see action in the Asian Elite Championships in Dubai.
Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam, who are all Tokyo-bound, are skipping the Dubai meet because of strict quarantine protocols that may stymie their training.