Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


WORLDS COLLIDE FOR PINOY PRIDE XXI


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU CITY ? Merlito 'El Tigre' Sabillo (22-0, 11 KO's) of the ALA Gym will defend his WBO world minimumweight title against Jorle Estrada (17-6, 6 KO's) of Colombia on July 13 at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila. The formal launching for the title bout that will headline the 21st edition of the highly successful 'Pinoy Pride' series was held today at the St. Mark's Hotel in uptown Cebu.

The two main supporting bouts will feature 'King' Arthur Villanueva (22-0, 12 KO's), the reigning OPBF superflyweight champion, who will fight for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight title against Mexico's Arturo 'Fuerte' Badillo (21-4, 19 KO's) and AJ 'Bazooka' Banal (28-2-1, 20 KO's) versus another Mexican, Abraham 'Cholo' Gomez ( 18-7-1, 9 KO's).

?We prepared well for this title defense.? Sabillo said, ?I will go for a knockout, it will be a matter of timing and delivery.?

?We doubled our efforts,? Trainer Edito Villamor added, ?Winning the title has made Sabillo more dedicated. He is also mentally prepared. We will give a good show.?

Villanueva has not given up his OPBF belt; The WBO regional belt will boost his world ranking. Villanueva will be fighting a Mexican for the first time in his career.

Top photo: Pinoy Pride XXI headliners (L-R): AJ Banal, Merlito Sabillo and Arthur Villanueva.


ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer answers questions from the media. To his right is WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo.


Comebacking AJ 'Bazooka' Banal is being confronted with the old questions on his last defeat.

ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer talked about his plans for the future and his choice of venue for this title bout. He emphasized their plan to bring boxing to Metro Manila and casinos like Solaire can do what the Venetian is doing in Macau.

Aldeguer also announced that ALA Promotions has been granted a license to promote in California. His vision is for a Filipino company to do what Top Rank Promotions has done. ALA Promotions is planning ahead of the Solaire card; he describes PP XXI as 'planting the seeds' for future cards in Metro Manila in the next fve years.

The latest Filipino boxing champ, IBO jr.bantamweight titlist Edrin Dapudong, has a contract with ALA Promotions. Dapudong's options are tied up with the South African promoter but Aldeguer is looking forward to promoting Dapudong's future defenses here in the Philippines.

BANAL PICKS UP THE PIECES

Banal's dreams were shattered last October at the hands of Pungluang Sor Singyu. He will have another rebuilding process which will be on a big stage once again. Cebu sportswriters raised questions whether this will be Banal's last chance and will he face early retirement like Rey Bautista if he loses.

?It is hard to say if this will be his last chance,? Aldeguer said, ?There are fighters who go through a lot of obstacles in life. Even Flash Elorde went through obstacles. The expectations were too high for him; a fighter goes through so many things.?

Banal is excited to make a comeback. He said that he has learned his lesson. His trainers feel the same way. But he will have to make a return once again under the microscope and something that he has to accept. The WBO world banatmweight title is now in the hands of Paulus Ambunda of Namibia who will be defending his title this August in Cebu against Tomoki Kameda of Japan.

PINOY PRIDE XXI: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE will be telecast on ABS-CBN.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 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.