CEBU CITY ? The mammoth crowd that witnessed the fight card headlined by WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. at the Cebu City Sports Complex here Saturday night was a clear indication of the sport?s state of affairs in the country. No doubt, boxing is alive and well.
ALA Boxing president Michael Aldeguer estimated the crowd to be 30,000. The gallery up in the stands has a seating capacity of 14,000 and it was standing room only. On the ground, there were at least 16,000 spectators. Sports Complex manager Ricky Ballesteros, however, was quoted as setting the crowd estimate at 23,000. There were other estimates from 15,000 to 20,000. In 2007, ALA staged the first fight event at the track stadium transformed into a boxing arena. The place brought in 15,000 fans but the memory was bittersweet as local boy Z Gorres lost a split decision to WBO superflyweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico. Gorres, who retired from boxing after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain in 2009, was in the crowd for the Donaire fight.
It took eight years before ALA brought boxing back to the Sports Complex and you could almost hear the fans holler ?about time.? Every bout in the card was a humdinger and the audience that included Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez enjoyed the action from start to finish.
The event was entertaining as it was thrilling. An in-venue barker went around interviewing celebrities, including actor Gerald Anderson, during lulls in between bouts. PSC chairman Richie Garcia, GAB chairman Monju Guanzon, Gov. Chavit Singson, Wakee Salud and the ABAP team led by executive director Ed Picson attended. Brazilian models were brought in as round girls. A live band performed. A full-dress military team brought up the colors of the Philippines and Hungary before the main event. Rapper Andrew E led Donaire?s march and got the crowd chanting ?kung kaya nako, kaya nimo.? For a while, it looked like Donaire went into a breakdance routine after entering the ring. But fans soon realized it couldn?t be Donaire as the breakdancer, who covered his face with a hoodie and wore a replica of the Filipino Flash?s boxing robe, had no handwraps or gloves. The gimmick brought the house down.
Aldeguer said ALA?s next promotion is set at the 12,000-seat University of St. La Salle gym on May 28 with WBO lightflyweight champion Donnie Nietes defending his title against Mexico?s Raul (Rayito) Garcia. It will be an intriguing matchup as Garcia?s twin brother Ramon lost the WBO 108-pound crown to Nietes on points at the same Bacolod City venue in 2011. Raul, 33, totes a 38-3-1 record, with 23 KOs, and among his victims were Filipinos Florante Condes, Rommel Asenjo and Michael Landero. Nietes was slated to stake his WBO minimumweight title against Raul in 2011 but the fight was cancelled when the Filipino decided to move up to the lightflyweight division. They?re facing off five years after the cancellation. Their paths will finally cross in an inevitable showdown.
Aldeguer said Nietes? defense against Garcia is voluntary. Nietes, who holds the record for a Filipino champion with the longest uninterrupted reign since 2007, will make a mandatory defense against Mexico?s Moises Fuentes in Carson City on Sept. 24, assuming he takes care of Garcia. Nietes? record is 37-1-4, with 21 KOs. Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
At ringside Saturday night, Nietes said he leaves it to Aldeguer to choose his opponents. He couldn?t care if it?s Garcia or Fuentes. Nietes said he?s ready to face anyone whom Aldeguer signs up.
Another card on the table for ALA is the July 9 event at the San Mateo Events Center near San Francisco. It will be bannered by unbeaten WBO Intercontinental superbantamweight prospect Albert (Prince) Pagara who has a 26-0 record, with 22 KOs. Aldeguer said featherweight sensation Mark (Magnifico) Magsayo and Pagara?s older brother Jason were initially pencilled to see action in the undercard but they?ve been scratched. Magsayo will take a rest after a bruising bout against Californian Chris Avalos last Saturday. Magsayo survived a third round knockdown to stop Avalos in the sixth. Jason suffered a deep cut near his eye in defeating Mexico?s Miguel Zamudio on the same bill and the wound will take a while to heal.
Aldeguer said ALA?s events wouldn?t be successful without support from the ABS-CBN network. Saturday night?s card was shown on ABS-CBN?s free-to-air and cable channels and international The Filipino Channel. Another partner was Top Rank represented by Brad Jacobs at ringside. Jacobs has been Top Rank?s executive event producer since 2010 and heads his own Miami-based sports entertainment outfit called Global Productions.
Manny Pacquiao may have retired but Philippine boxing remains in good hands with ALA?s unwavering faith in Filipino fighters. For over 20 years, ALA has been in the forefront of promoting Filipino boxers. It was established by ALA Boxing CEO Tony Aldeguer (whose initials ALA stand for Antonio Lopez Aldeguer) and the family remains as committed as ever to elevate the sport to the highest level.
