“Torre wins charity boxing match by default; raises P20 million in donations”

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Sunday won by default in a charity boxing match against acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who did not show up.

The match raised more than PHP20 million in cash donations and ticket sales.

The crowd later joined the ring announcer in the countdown for Baste to appear.

“You’re the winner, General Nicolas Torre III!” the ring announcer declared after the countdown ended.

With the song “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the background, Torre jogged toward the boxing ring set up inside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila after four undercard fights featuring boxers from the PNP Boxing Team.

Torre said the PNP had already received around PHP16.3 million in cash donations from various sponsors.

He added that two tons of relief goods were also donated to the PNP in support of the charity boxing match, valued at around PHP4.2 million. Ticket sales generated approximately PHP350,000.

“We will donate all proceeds to our fellow citizens affected by the typhoon. In fact, we will be going to Baseco (Manila) later to deliver assistance,” Torre said, noting that donations would be distributed through agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Red Cross.

Torre’s camp began preparing for the bout after Baste Duterte issued a statement demanding that he would only fight if President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and all elected officials underwent a drug test.

“First of all, it’s just the two of us involved here. A hair follicle test for both of us can be done anytime, anywhere. You can see the effort we’ve put into this, and I don’t think he is worth responding to at this point. Let him stay in his own world for now,” Torre told reporters.

Duterte had initially mentioned a fistfight with Torre in one of his podcasts—a challenge the PNP chief accepted but proposed turning it into a charity boxing match for disaster victims.

When Baste began making what others called “impossible demands,” Torre sensed that the former had no real intention to fight.

Baste later stated he would fight Torre between Tuesday and Friday of that week, but Torre was no longer interested.

“We’ve said everything, so this was the only chance we would entertain him. After that, he’s irrelevant. There were too many conditions. When you issue a challenge, you must stand by it. If you can’t, just stop,” he said.

Torre insisted the event proceed since sponsors had already committed donations.

When Baste attempted to reschedule the fight again, Torre dismissed the idea.

“There’s no logic in anything he says anymore. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not like his supporters, whom he can deceive endlessly,” he said.

Among the attendees were Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Police Commission Vice Chairman Raphael Calinisan, and senior PNP officials.