The Games and Amusement Board will look closely into the activities of a boxing series called “Battle of Youtubers,” whose video clips on social media show people in violent acts, while shouting expletives.
“Of course, we will have this checked. Having this investigated now,” GAB chairman Richard Clarin said when sought to comment on the matter.
The GAB was also furnished by netizens’ comments about a post that show participants trading blows and cursing each other, with a lady host shouting in obscene language.
“Dapat ‘yang mga ‘yan, i-ban sa lahat ng social media. Dapat tutukan ng gobyerno ‘yan, ‘di sila magandang halimbawa sa mga kabataan,” said Niccolo Dela Cruz at the comment section in one of the the videos.
Battle of the Youtubers is a boxing event that features popular social media vloggers.
In promoting the fight, however, scripted videos show the protagonists exchanging hash words which become worse during their faceoff and weigh-in ceremony, usually held a day before the fight.
Some professional boxers, who acquire professional licenses from the GAB, have suspected that the events do not have government permits and therefore, are not regulated and are deemed illegal.
“Hindi magandang ehemplo ang mga ito sa kabataan,” said pro boxing coach Glenn Mondol.
Whether scripted or not, the (youtubers) antics denigrate the sport of boxing and martial arts sport and put to shame the honorable men and women of professional prizefighting, according to netizens.
“Dapat kasi mag-vlog na lang kayo, pati ba naman boxing papasukin niyo pa? Akala niyo madali ang boxing,” one netizen commented.
The GAB’s investigation on the matter was confirmed by GAB’s Boxing and Combat Sports Division chief Jackie Cacho Ornido.
Clarin has been making rounds in various boxing promotions, pushing for more professionalism in the sport, with a prime focus on improving the boxers’ health and safety, prize purses, and opportunities abroad.
GAB is also persistent in its effort to avoid mismatches and other illegal practices by careful screening and evaluation of fight cards.