July 27, 2025 | Davao City
Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has expressed willingness to push through with his charity boxing match against Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III—but not on a Sunday.
In a video message, Duterte explained that Sundays are usually reserved for personal commitments, making it difficult for him to participate in the originally scheduled July 27 bout.
“I’m not available on Sundays. But I’m free on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or other days—just not Sunday,” Duterte said, suggesting alternative dates for the event.
The charity match was initially set as the main highlight of “Boxing for a Cause: Laban Para sa Nasalanta,” a fundraising event aimed at helping disaster-affected communities. Duterte’s absence from the scheduled match led to Torre being declared the winner by default after his opponent failed to show up at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Despite missing the event, Duterte hinted that a future bout is still on the table and even advised Gen. Torre to improve his training. He commented on Torre’s recent practice sessions, suggesting the PNP chief focus more on his punching accuracy and defensive techniques.
“Better use the extra time to train harder,” Duterte quipped. “Your punches seem off, and you need to work on protecting your face.”
While no new date has been confirmed, Duterte’s openness to a rescheduled match keeps the possibility of a future face-off alive—drawing continued public interest in what was supposed to be a light-hearted charity showdown between two public figures.
