The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is targeting at least three countries where the Filipino hopefuls can train in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics and other big international tournaments.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson yesterday said the association plans to send different sets of fighters to China, Cuba, and the United States.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping has arranged a 30-day training camp for boxers in China.

Angping forged an agreement with the Chinese Sports Ministry during a recent visit to that country.

“Our idea is to send groups of boxers in different places because we want to give them exposures in order to measure themselves up to other foreign boxers. There’s no room for improvement if they will just train here,” Picson said in the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

Besides China, Picson said another 30-day training is set in Cuba and a short stint in the US for youth and junior players being honed for the Olympiad.

Once the boxers complete their foreign training, they will be evaluated through an informal competition to determine the members of the national team in upcoming events.

Two important tournaments lined up for boxers this year are the world championships in Milan, Italy in September and the Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos in December.

“Of course, we wanted to send the best boxers in tournaments like these, especially in the world championships where there is a very stiff competition,” Picson said.

ABAP is planning to send three to five boxers in the world championships and eight to 13 fighters in the SEAG.