GAB awards cash to ex-WBF champ and ex-convict Magahin

By Philippine News Service
May 15, 2006

ILOILO CITY  –  Instead of condemning him and treating him as a social outcast, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), in an unprecedented Board resolution last May 10, awarded P10,000 cash to former World Boxing Foundation (WBF) welterweight champion William Magahin of this city.

The decision to provide “welfare assistance” to the 35-year-old black mestizo retired fighter came after GAB Commissioner Alex A. Paglumotan learned that the former boxer is now jobless and penniless after being released from the Quezon City jail where he spent more than two years for cases of robbery-holdup.

Unanimous

“The (GAB) Board unanimously has approved the P10,000 cash as welfare assistance to William Magahin. Chairman Eric Buhain and my fellow Commissioner Angel Bautista okayed the financial assistance. He can claim the money by sending us a letter of request,” Paglumotan informed WBF Philippine Supervisor Alex P. Vidal in a text message hours before the GAB official left for Chicago, USA to attend a commissioners’ meeting of the Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) from May 10-17, 2006.

For his part, Vidal thanked the GAB for “sending a positive signal to all retired Filipino boxers like Magahin” saying he will inform WBF President Mick Croucher about GAB’s benevolence.

“The amount will not last a lifetime but the GAB showed that it is ready to come to the rescue of destitute boxers regardless of their background,” said Vidal, referring to Magahin whose incarceration in 2003 prompted Croucher to come to Manila and visit him in jail.

Cash for bailbond

Croucher, who admitted he pitted the Amerasian ex-pugilist when he read his story in the internet, also offered cash to bail him out on August 2, 2003.

Croucher’s efforts were, however, dashed to pieces as Filipino promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde returned to Croucher the cash for Magahin’s bail “because it is better for him (Magahin) to stay in jail as he is a menace to the society.”

Magahin landed in jail after he and a male companion robbed passengers of an FX taxi in Quezon City in June 2003.

The former boxer won the WBF belt by whipping Australian Jeff Malcolm on points in a title fight at the Iloilo Sports Complex here on March 25, 1995.

Debacle

He lost it on points to Suwito Lagola in Sumatra, Indonesia but regained it when the WBF stripped Lagola of the title for failing to make a mandatory defense.

After repulsing on points deaf-mute Hawaiian-Filipino challenger Erwin Villaver in 1996, Magahin yielded the crown to Jaime Lerma of Texas, USA on a savage 11th round disposal witnessed at the ringside by then Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.