| |
|
ANOTHER JAPANESE TRAINS AT ALA GYM
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Fri, 26 Aug 2005
Japan's national flyweight champ, Daisuke Naito, is the latest of the list of foreign fighters seeking refuge at the famed ALA Gym, as he prepares for a grand rematch with WBC flyweight king and ex-tormentor Pongsaklek Wongjongkam on October 10 at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Naito was at the receiving end of Pongsaklek's fury when they first met on April 19, 2002, as the latter easily took him out in the opening round, registering the fastest knockout in flyweight by knocking out the Japanese in just 34 seconds. It was Naito's only career blemish in 30 fights.
This time, 30-year-old Naito (27-1-2, 19 KO's) has decided to enlist the expertise of the ALA Gym to hone up his skills in preparation for Pongsaklek, who is hitherto unknown but is widely considered by experts as the world's finest fighter in the 112-lb class bar none.
"There is a Japanese now training in my gym...Yesterday he sparred with Gerry Penalosa," Cebu sportsman Tony Aldeguer, who owns the ALA Gym, told this writer yesterday. For a start, Naito logged in rounds against the ex-WBC superfly king Penalosa.
Since losing to Pongsaklek, Naito has successfully rebuilt his career, racking up eight consecutive wins, taking the Japanese fly crown in the process and defending it twice.
Pongsaklek has a formidable record of 57 wins, 2 losses with 31 knockouts. He has been undefeated since 1996.
END
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: Twelve Years Later, Don José is Still With Us By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 20 Jan 2026Get know “BIG BAD BAZLEY”as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Tue, 20 Jan 2026“Jye Chin brings a fight to whoever, whenever and where ever”: Jye Chin ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Tue, 20 Jan 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 JANUARY 2026: Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa End in No Contest; Raul Curiel Outpoints Jordan Panthen By Eric Armit, , Mon, 19 Jan 2026Ryan Daye ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Mon, 19 Jan 2026RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN , Sat, 17 Jan 2026Weights from Philadelphia , Sat, 17 Jan 2026Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos) By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 Jan 2026MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21 , Sat, 17 Jan 2026NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP , Fri, 16 Jan 2026SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE , Fri, 16 Jan 2026Usyk Linked to Zuffa Boxing Deal as Questions Loom Over Title Defenses By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 16 Jan 2026Abass Baraou: "No One Has Been Able to Withstand My Pressure!" , Fri, 16 Jan 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Female Star Chantel “Chicanita” Navarro , Fri, 16 Jan 2026Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC wants to protect fighters' dream of becoming a world champion By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 15 Jan 2026Xander Zayas: "It's Time to Make History!" , Thu, 15 Jan 2026Weights from Trenton, NJ , Thu, 15 Jan 2026Pro Boxer and Recent Grad Returns for Fight Night on the Farm — Celebrating Stanford’s Boxing Community , Thu, 15 Jan 2026Jamaine Ortiz Aims to Derail Keyshawn Davis’ Undefeated Streak at Madison Square Garden , Wed, 14 Jan 2026“No bad blood from me”- Good friends become better rivals – Clarke is ready for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Wed, 14 Jan 2026Itauma suffers injury; Magnificent 7 rescheduled to March 28 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026Top Super Lightweights Bryan Flores & Starling Castillo Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Wed, 14 Jan 2026Harden surpasses Shaquille O'Neal's to become the ninth all-time leading scorer in NBA history By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|