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ALA PROMOTIONS INAUGURAL VENTURE IN THE U.S. A ROUSING SUCCESS By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Sun, 25 Oct 2015  The inaugural venture of ALA Promotions into the fiercely competitive boxing market in the United States was a rousing success from the standpoint of the interest it generated in mainly the Fil-Am media in the West Coast and even in the international media and the media in the Philippines largely due to the support of the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN and its multi- platforms, including the widely watched TFC, the Filipino Channel which was a partner in the event. It took two years for the youthful and hardworking President and CEO of ALA Promotions Michael Aldeguer to go through the process of obtaining a promoter?s license from the California State Athletic Commission which in itself was a historic first. While he was working on obtaining a promoter?s license, Aldeguer was hammering out the details of the fight card and the various activities that are a part and parcel of a US promotion with the help of ABS-CBN, TFC and the man whose vision encouraged the creation of the hugely successful ?Pinoy Pride? series, the sports consultant of the network and the voice of ABS-CBN, Peter Musgni. With consistent support from the internationally know internet site philboxing.com as well as Viva Sports boxingmirror.com and other boxing internet sites, the interest in the fight card at the StubHub Center in Carson City, California, grew. The key to success was the matchmaking where, as Aldeguer pointed out, ?we got tough fights for all.? In the main event WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion put his title on the line against Mexican champion Juan ?Pinky? Alejo who had a record of 21-3 with 13 knockouts and was rated No. 8 in the world. Two other promising young fighters whom ?Dodong? Donaire, the trainer/father of five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire said are ?the future of Philippine boxing? and on the threshold of becoming world champions -- undefeated IBF International super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara and unbeaten IBF Youth world champion Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo faced experienced and explosive opponents. 21 year old Prince Albert Pagara who had a record of 24-0 with 17 knockouts battled Nicaraguan southpaw William ?Chirizo? Gonzales an aggressive, hard-hitting veteran who had a record of 23 knockouts in 27 wins with 5 losses and was coming off a sensational 7th round TKO of heavily-fancied Cornelius Lock last May 9, 2014 whom he dropped three times in the round to carve a name for himself. 20 year old Mark Magsayo who boasted of an unbeaten record of 11-0 with 9 knockouts battled undefeated Mexican slugger Yardley Suarez who had registered 8 knockouts in 13 wins and had vowed to stop Magsayo within two rounds boasting ? I have power in both hands. If I hit him in the body or chin he will go down.? The tough talk didn?t mean a thing to Magsayo who, according to ALA Gym head trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor was ?magnificent in sparring? against Mexican Olympic boxers and Russian and Japanese fighters at the Wild Card Gym. Prince Albert?s older brother Jason Pagara who is rated No. 2 in the world by the WBO was considered a squestion mark in his clash with Santos Benavides, a southpaw slugger from Nicaragua but put on a surprisingly focused and aggressive performance to gain the recognition he failed to get in his last fight in Dubai against Ramiro Alcaraz even though he came away with an 8th round technical decision due to a cut suffered by Alcaraz. Nonito Donaire who did the TV coverage alongside Dyan Castillejo enthused over ?the great fight card? and singled out Prince Albert Pagara and Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo for their explosive performances. He was impressed by the ?amazing showing? of Prince Albert and was struck by ?the maturity and composure he displayed against a very tough opponent.? Both Nonito and his Dad, ?Dodong? Donaire were near ecstatic over the display by Prince Albert and Magsayo against formidable opponents although ?Dodong? said they need ?a little more experience? and cautioned against the youngsters tendency to go for an early knockout. They also agreed that Prince Albert who is ranked No. 3 by the IBF could beat IBF champion Carl Frampton and WBA champion Scott Quigg of Britain. Nonito said the flag-waving Filipinos who cheered the Filipino fighters endlessly were great, as always, and added ?It was like a homecoming.? To Michael Aldeguer ?overall, it was more than I expected? and pointed to the fact that ?we got tough fights for all because we knew it was our first event in the US which is considered the Mecca of boxing where lot of people understand the sport and were watching.? He maintained that ?we need to build it up, work around this card.? Michael remarked ?we knew Gonzalez would be a dangerous opponent, Alejo ?showed lots of heart? even though he lost by a near shutout to Nietes who produced a master class. He feels that Prince Albert Pagara ?can beat most world champions in his weight division? but conceded that ?nobody can beat (Guillermo) Rigondeaux.? While Aldeguer mentioned the fact that they would ?try to work something with the handlers of Carl Frampton? he emphasized ?there?s no rush. Pagara is rated No 3. Lets see how he goes up.? Michael wants the top Ala boxers to ?spend more time in Los Angeles because there are a variety of sparring partners and its good exposure.? As for a title fight for Prince Albert, . ?if it comes it will come but not right away? indicating they need ?to work on the program.? Aldeguer told us he ?didn?t expect the fans to be so excited but it?s what we wanted? even as ALA International Promotions hopes to schedule four events in the US next year and hope the boxers will train in the US more and get more accustomed to fighting in the US. He plans to have fight cards in the first week of April in partnership with TFC in San Diego, another card in the Los Angeles area in June, although ?they won?t really be big fights yet. Its something we want to build. I?ve always said it?s a long term program.? Michael Aldeguer is hoping that the following in the US will grow by word of mouth and through the social media similar to the epic movie General Luna whose attendance in movie houses in the Philippines grew substantially. Just over 3,000 flag-waving, cheering Filipinos bought tickets for the fights which actually featured only five fights . The Stub Hub Center seats around 8,000 but it certainly wasn?t bad for a first endeavor. In fact Michael Aldeguer said ?I didn?t expect it.? He said people can also watch the fights on TV even as he mentioned the habit of Filipinos ?who like to watch in their homes on pay per view Filipino style where they gather a group and watch in their homes.? Michael wants Filipinos in the US to realize ?its something different to look for. We need to educate them that Pinoy Pride ?is really ours.? Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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