Philippines, 10 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Bautista Tasked to Lead Boxing Resurgence in Dubai


PhilBoxing.com




He may not have fully recognized it, but it is on the shoulders of the highly-popular Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista where the legitimacy of professioanal boxing truly rests.

His fight against Thailand's Saichon Sotornpitak may only be a ten-round dukeout, a non-title affair, but the bout is expected to truly test the readiness of fans in Dubai to embrace boxing hopefully in the level of cricket and other European sports which dominate Dubai sporting skyline.

Bautista versus Sotornpitak will headline the card dubbed "Philippines vs The Rest of the World, which is presented by KO Promotions in association with ALA Promotions to be aired "live" by ABS-CBN.

"This is an even that has been in the offing for the last two years and a half," declared KO Promotions' Arniel Josua Armamento, one of the three main movers of the Dubai-based boxing outfit.

Armamento flew in to join ALA's Michael Aldeguer during yesterday's press conference at the Cebu City Sports Club officially announcing the card, which will also boast of the inclusion of Bobby Pacquiao who will fight an Indonesian opponent.

Pacquiao, however, has yet to get the go-signal from his superstar brother Manny Pacquiao, who many in Dubai hope will be at the fight venue to cheer for his brother.

The event is to be staged at the 10,000-capacity Dubai Tennis Arena, venue of some of the biggest tennis matches held annually in the state.

"We are counting on the support of some 400,000 Filipinos in Dubai, and the more than 650,000 Filipinos in the entire UAE," added Armamento, who is working with partners Ramon Pizarras and Zack Taumafai to produce a highly-entertaining event.

"Boom Boom Bautista automatically became the lead candidate to fight in Dubai when we were making plans for all these. Add to that the fact that my partner Ramon Pizarras is from Bohol," revealed the 38-yea-old Armamento, who is into the real estate, publishing, entertainment and agri business.

The last professional boxing event in Dubai took place on February 8, 2008 featuring Michael Moorer against Shelby Gross. Reports, however, indicate that the fight did not do as well as organizers had expected.

In the co-feature, ALA fighter Milan Milendo will defend his WBC Intercontinental title against Colombia's Devis Perez.

The rest of the card pits Jason Pagara against John Gicharu of Kenya while Toledo City's Larry "Bon Jovi" Canillas takes on Fred Sayuni of Tanzania.

Two kickboxing bouts will serve as curtain-raisers to the professional bouts.

Top photo: Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista (R) and trainer Edmund Villamor during Tuesday's presscon at the City Sports Club in Cebu City. Photo by Andrew Aseniero.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Battle Ready: Midgley and Apisit Clash for WBF Australasian Heavyweight Strap
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 Aug 2025
  • Filipino Jan Clifford Labog wins big in Hongkong chess tourney; earns Candidate Master title
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 10 Aug 2025
  • Featherweight Crusher Mirco Cuello Destroys Sergio Rios to Win WBA Interim Championship in Benghazi
    , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • TONIGHT! Maricela "La Diva" Cornejo to Battle Natasha "The Nightmare" Spence for WBA International Title
    , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • INKSIDE Track: A Quarantine Story Tattooed in Mactan
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • A Night of Boxing in Sta Ynez, California: Cain Sandoval Versus Jino Rodrigo
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces 2025 World Boxing Championships Roster
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Adrien Broner Hints at Comeback, Pledges 3-5 More Years to Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Heavyweight Jamar Talley falls short in opening bout of 2023 Santiago Pan American Games
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Milo Marathon in Tagum on September 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Former Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion, Riddick Bowe Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Gaballo and Laurente to Co-Headline Sanman Boxing Event in Gensan
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Paulo Salud and His POWer Punches
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Jamaine Ortiz Eager to Face Steve Claggett in Co-Main Event of MVP Fight Night on DAZN
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Happy 53rd Birthday to the One and Only Gerry Peñalosa!!!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • FLORIDA POOL OPEN DAY TWO: GORST FALLS TO ATENCIO AS CHUA, YAPP, AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • 128 chess players officially registered for Touchmove
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Japanese Rule of the Lower Weights Under Challenge by Pinoy, Latino Boxers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • September 6: Former World Champion Oscar Valdez Faces Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in Mexican Homecoming at Domo Binacional in Nogales
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Former World Champion & U. S. Olympian Sadam Ali to headline “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • "Pitbull" Cruz receives his WBC Belt in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • Japanese Rule of Lower Weights Under Challenge; Head-Scratching Latest WBC World Rankings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • UNDERCARD ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV AS HEARN EXPECTS TICKETS TO FLY FOR OCTOBER 11 IN SHEFFIELD
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • Yoenis Tellez to Defend WBA Interim Title Against Abass Baraou in High-Stakes Showdown on DAZN
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • CB Promotions To Debut This Fall
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.