Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) March will witness the inaugural round of Taiwan's first professional boxing championship, featuring the legendary Manny Pacquiao as honorary president.

At a press conference for the Carry Fighting Championship (CFC) in Taipei Tuesday, Carry Fighting Sports Group Corp. CEO Jerry Yen (顏宥騫) announced the newly established boxing league's partnership with Pacquiao, a Filipino former professional boxer.

Pacquiao, the only boxer to have won eight world championships at different weights, set foot on the island for the first time Monday evening.

At Tuesday's press event, Pacquiao said he was excited to participate in the "groundbreaking initiative within Taiwan's fighting community."

"I believe the CFC will become a new milestone in the fighting sports world, showing the limitless potential Taiwan holds in this field."

Although the now 45-year-old world boxing icon announced his retirement in 2021, the nascent Taiwanese league wishes to thrive on his spirit and knowledge in its bid to succeed on the international stage, Yen said.

"Mr. Pacquiao will leverage his strength and experience to organize, promote [the CFC] and help elevate Taiwan's international status in the ring."

According to CFC COO Billy Drummed, the league, set to hold its first bout in March, will include a premier league featuring contracted boxers and a street fight league open for registration.

In addition to prize money for the champion in each weight division, all boxers in the premier league will be guaranteed a monthly salary and a bonus for each fight, Drummed said.

The prize money is said to be NT$1 million (US$32,180), according to Yen.

As for the street fight league, boxers will earn prize money for each victory, including prize money for the champion in each weight class.

The premier league will consist of four weight divisions each with eight boxers, while the street fight league will comprise 16 fighters in each of the six weight divisions. The entire program will be broadcast and televised.

Further details will be released on the official website and social media of the CFC, Drummed added.

As the first organization of its kind in Taiwan, the CFC aims to provide local boxers with "a deserving stage," according to talk show producer Hauer Hsieh (謝政豪).

Echoing Hsieh's sentiment, Su Hsiao-ken (蘇孝肯), head coach of CFC partner Kenjon Boxing Center of Motion, believes CFC embodies a Taiwan boxing culture in the making.

"Taiwan has never lacked boxing talent ... but we don't have other stages for them to shine other than the Olympics and Asian games. I hope the CFC will serve as a stage that facilitates the professionalization of the sport," he said.

source: https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202401090024

By Li Chien-chung and Chao Yen-hsiang