2 RP boxers cleared
in Thailand foul-up
By Salven L. Lagumbay
Inquirer News Service

NO Filipino boxer faked his name; it was purely a journalistic error.

Thai matchmaker Narong Hengtrakul issued this statement to correct an erroneous report by Thai journalist Damrong Simakajornboon, which came out in the boxing website Fightnews.com, whereby boxer Nonoy Gonzales was supposedly identified as "Rev Santillan" in his losing bout against Pan-Asia Boxing Association welter champ Sintung Kietbusaba.

"During the fight, TV commentators clearly told the audience that they were Nonoy Gonzales and Romualdo Mahinay," explained Hengtrakul.

The statement was issued to clear the names of the two boxers.

Fightnews also immediately rectified the error after the Games and Amusements Board immediately sent the website a letter demanding correction.

The camp of Santillan, the reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation welterweight king and ranked World Boxing Council No. 10, last week sent out letters to all boxing bodies to clarify the foul-up, explaining that it was not Santillan who actually fought and lost in Thailand but Gonzales.

"This is unfair... This erroneous report will jeopardize my boy's ranking," said Rex "Wakee" Salud, manager of Santillan.