Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president and veteran sportscaster Ed Picson died Wednesday morning due to liver cancer complications. He was 69.
“It is with deep sadness that I confirm that ABAP President Ed Picson passed away this morning due to complications from cancer of the liver,” ABAP secretary general Marcus Manalo said in a statement.
Picson became a household name among local basketball fans during his stint as an anchor and commentator in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also gained popularity with his boxing show called “Blow by Blow” in the 1990s that featured the early fights of Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao, who revived the program again late last year.
Picson then transitioned to sports politics.
After years of serving as executive director and secretary general of ABAP, he was elected president of the sports body in November 2021.
It was under his watch that ABAP had its best campaign ever in the Olympics when Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio bagged one silver medal apiece and Eumir Marcial won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
CNN Philippines correspondent Pauline Verzosa contributed to this report.
