The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is set to discuss its possible participation in the 2021 AIBA World Championships in Serbia next month.
ABAP Secretary-General Ed Picson floated the idea of fielding boxers who did not participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The rest of the national team, aside from Olympians Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, and Irish Magno, are currently holed up training in Baguio City after coming back from their Thailand training camp months ago prior to the Tokyo Games.
Picson said the participation of the four Olympians is unlikely since they have not trained since competing in the quadrennial meet.
"There will be a world championships in October in Serbia and we're looking at that," said Picson in the recent episode of Philippine Sports Commission hour via Radyo Pilipinas 2. "Kung merong available na boxer, of course, doubtful na 'yong mga Olympians coz obviously they haven't been training since Tokyo (If there are available boxers coz obviously we are doubtful fielding the Olympians since they haven't been training since Tokyo)."
Picson cited that the Olympians might be unfit to participate, especially with the less amount of time for preparation considering that the world championships will kick off on October 24.
Per AIBA's calendar on its website, the men's division will begin October 24 to November 6 in Belgrade while the women's counterpart is set to be discussed.
Picson said ABAP will be having a meeting on Friday, Sept. 11, with its president Ricky Vargas.
The ABAP official added that the boxers' "improvised" training in Teacher's Camp oval are mostly associated with outdoor workouts since no gyms are available.
The national team, both players and coaches, is staying at a rented hostel and that they couldn't maximize training at such conditions heading into the world championships.
"Obviously, hindi kumplete 'yong facilities doon so we're studying the possibility of participating in the world championships... to determine kung viable ba na lumahok sa world championships (The facilities there are not complete so we're studying the possibility of joining to determine if its viable)," said Picson.
"Kung just to participate, kung compliance baka hindi especially after a spectacular performance in Tokyo. Kung sasali lang tayo para matalo ay 'wag na siguro, parang 'di yata maganda (If for compliance, perhaps it's not a good idea especially after a spectacular performance in Tokyo. If we were to join just to lose in the process, maybe we won't join)."