The boxing ring is already set, the undercards and referees were chosen, and the pledges of support from sponsors keep on coming.

The only uncertain at this point is whether or not acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte would show up at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, July 27, for the much anticipated boxing match with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

“While the Chief PNP is busy on his job, he will come on Sunday at the Rizal Coliseum,’ said PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.

“And whether or not Mayor Baste would show up, our Chief PNP will be there,” she stressed.

It was Duterte who challenged Torre in a fistfight in one of his podcasts, and the entire nation was surprised after Torre accepted the challenge but said he would turn it into a charity boxing match for the typhoon victims.

The excitement of the fight, however, was replaced by doubts that it would push through after Duterte laid down his own condition—that he would fight Torre if President Marcos and all government officials would undergo drug test.

And the chance of the fight pushing through further turned gloomy after Duterte was reported to have flown to Singapore on Friday, July 25.

But on the part of Torre, Fajardo said the Chief PNP remains optimistic of the clash.

What further motivated Torre, according to Fajardo, was the overflowing of pledges from various sponsors.

“As of last night (July 25), a lot of sponsors pledged to support his advocacy to help those affected by the weather disturbances. They would donate for this purpose,” said Fajardo.

Of undercards and referees

Earlier, the Games and Amusement Board was reported to have signed a resolution that ensures the safety of the fight by offering referees and medical teams during the scheduled fight.

On the part of the PNP, Fajardo said there will be boxing teams from the police forces that would come.

Their matches will serve as undercards for the main event: Nick Torre vs Baste Duterte. 

“There will be boxing teams that will go there and while we are waiting, they will entertain our kababayan who wants to watch and all the donations will be announced,” said Fajardo.

“So let’s take this as an opportunity to help our kababayan,” he added.

Drug test condition?

Torre does not want to dignify the drug test for all government officials’ demand of Duterte and remains focused in preparing for the fight, according to Fajardo.

“The Chief PNP does not want to respond to that because in the first place, he just responded to the challenge (of Duterte for a fistfight),” said Fajardo.

“But our Chief PNP wants to put this in good use for the sake of our kababayan who were affected by the weather disturbances,” she added.