Boxing: Philippines target Olympic golds in 2008

By Salven L. Lagumbay: In a major breakthrough, the Philippine Governors through the League of Provinces of the Philippines is set to launch its own project initiative aimed at producing the country's first Olympic boxing gold medallist in 2008 and 2012.

Dubbed the "Governor's National Amateur Boxing Circuit," it is a long-term program aimed at providing much-needed support for amateur boxers, which will be separate from the programs of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

Since the inception of the Olympic Games, the Philippines has won only five boxing medals since its participation in the 1932 Olympics namely : Cely Villanueva - Bronze - 1932 Olympics; Anthony Villanueva - Silver - 1964; Leopoldo Serrantes - Bronze - 1988; Roel Velasco - Bronze - 1992; and Mansueto Velasco - Silver - 1999.