Religious leader Quiboloy ventures into sports, to co-manage six pro boxers

Religious leader Apollo Quiboloy is branching out to sports, with the construction of a P3-billion coliseum in Davao City and an agreement to support six boxing talents from Mindanao.

State-run Philippines News Agency said Quiboloy, who founded the “Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” has set up Sonshine Sports Management to manage the boxing talents.

Quiboloy, who also runs his own radio-TV media outfits, on Wednesday signed an agreement to co-manage and promote pro boxers Edrin Dapudong, Lorenzo Villanueva, Rolando Magbanua, Rommel Asenjo, Roskie Cristobal, and John Michael Sarguilla.

Dapudong, a.k.a. The Sting, hails from M'lang in Cotabato. He is the reigning IBO Super Flyweight champion.

Villanueva is the former WBO Oriental featherweight champion, winning the title in 2009. Magbanua meanwhile, once held the title of WBO Oriental bantamweight champion.

Former Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol, who entered into the management agreement, will handle the day-to-day training and affairs of the six.

Quiboloy, who said he wants to help talented Filipinos who need support in physical conditioning and training to compete nationally and internationally, will actively promote professional boxing events via Sonshine Sports Management.

Meanwhile, Quiboloy plans to have a world-class multipurpose arena completed by 2015, Philippine Information Agency reported.

The facility to be built at a five-hectare site near the 23-hectare Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound near the Davao International Airport, will be dubbed the King Dome.

Once completed, it is to have a seating capacity of 52,000.

The PIA said the facility will be the second FIBA-standard basketball court in Davao City, next to the 8,000-seater University of Southeastern Philippine (USEP) gymnasium. - Joel Locsin / AMD, GMA News