By Ronnie Nathanielsz

RICKY Vargas, newly elected president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, hasn?t wasted any time working since he succeeded Manny Lopez, who is now vice president of both the Abap and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Vargas toured the Abap facilities in Baguio City and met with the two Cuban coaches as well as their Filipino counterparts.

He later  told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he had a town-hall type of meeting with everybody including the boxers, with recent World Cup champion and Olympian Harry Ta?amor among the boxers present.

Vargas disclosed that he also had lunch with Baguio City Mayor Peter Ray Bautista.

?The mayor committed to continue the program started by Manny [Lopez] to provide boxers with an education at the University of Baguio,? said Vargas.

From Baguio, Vargas and Abap secretary-general Patrick Gregorio flew to Davao City to visit a local training facility, where boxers were training for the forthcoming National Championships in Bacolod City.

?I had a good conversation and exchange with Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol and Butch Ramirez [Philippine Sports Commission chairman] and listened to what they had to say,? said Vargas.

Continuing his whirlwind trip, Vargas then flew Thursday afternoon aboard the PLDT-Smart plane to Cebu City, where he visited the ALA Gym of boxing patron Tony Aldeguer. At breakfast today at 7 a.m., he then meets former world champion Dodie Boy Pe?alosa to discuss the future of his son Dodie Boy Pe?alosa Jr.

Newly elected Abap chairman, businessman-sportsman Manuel V. Pangilinan, visited the ALA Gym two months ago and after a tour of the facilities and talking to Aldeguer, trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor and some of the former amateur boxers, who turned pro including Z Gorres and Mark Jason Melligen, told Standard Today he was very impressed.

Dodie Boy Jr. was set to make his professional debut on a fight card in Mandaluyong promoted by his uncle World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa last Dec. 27.

But World Boxing Council founding secretary-general Rudy Salud and this reporter met with the Pe?alosa brothers on the eve of the fight and succeeded in convincing them to allow Dodie Boy Jr. to remain as an amateur and help in the Philippines? quest for an elusive Olympic gold medal.

Following last-minute arrangements, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa Jr. faced an amateur opponent Jonel Borbon and won by a Referees Stopped Contest in Round 2 when Borbon quit after taking some vicious body shots from national champion and ?Best Boxer.?