Where were you last night? Were you part of history or did you miss it? Did you know that the time has come actually came? Take a bow Cebu. The biggest boxing event in the country (since Manny Pacquiao fought Oscar Larios) took place last night when Nonito Donaire Jr. defended his WBO junior world featherweight championship against Zsolt Bedak of Hungary at the Cebu City Sports Center. That?s Cebu Pride for you. Top Rank and ALA Promotions could?ve staged this event in Manila for convenience and an easier task for ABS-CBN?s crew. But Cebu had to be it. Cebu had to be the answer. No other place could?ve been a better venue for big-time boxing. My apologies to our friends, colleagues and boxing fans in Manila, but Manila can?t fill up a boxing event like Cebu can. I don?t even think Manila will have a big boxing event in the near future with the retirement of Pacquiao. But what is it about Cebu Boxing? Why Cebu?
The hosting of Donaire?s title defense is actually a proper and fitting ?bonus? for a proud Cebu that has grown the sport of boxing. It has taken the lead for the boxing industry, something unusual when Manila is always the leader and center of all trade and industry, sports included. Boxing is just one of a few industries which relies on Manila as its center. And it all started with someone who went into boxing out his passion and love for the sport, even if it meant losing his pants each time he staged a boxing event and even more when he had to maintain a boxing gym, then provide meals and accommodations for boxers under his wings. I can still remember each time a boxing event would be held with hardly any sponsors or financial support from private firms or brands. Aware of all the expenses that goes with putting up a boxing promotion/event, I would ask the person they call ALA how the event could survive on just ticket sales. His reply was always simple and straightforward, ?We don?t and we can?t,? he would say. ?But we?ve got to do this. Otherwise, boxing would die,? he would add emphatically with a matching hand gesture. Fast forward to today, and you?ll see what I mean. After years of putting up boxing events at a loss, ALA Promotions has overcome such tough times and now stands out as the undisputed leader of the boxing industry. Gone are the days when ALA loses his pants. Gone are the days when ticket sales were quickly wiped out by a night?s expenses. Gone are the days when Cebu looked up to Manila and the Games and Amusements Board as the center of boxing. Like it or not. Cebu is Philippine boxing.
With the entry of ALA?s son Michael as President and the ALA partnership with ABS-CBN, Cebu Boxing has reached heights no one else will match in a long time. The partnership was a key move. Who could?ve imagined ABS-CBN tying up with a Cebu-based outfit for a TV series? How often will one see a Manila media giant actually hook up with Cebu? We don?t see GMA or ABC/Sports 5 doing it, do we? My guess is that this could be the TV giant?s only big-time tie-up with a promdi sports outfit. Everything else has been on the rise since then with the launch of the Pinoy Pride series. Ironically, Pinoy Pride was preceded by a host of other ALA events already covered by ABS-CBN in the pre-Pinoy Pride days. In fact, ALA also tied up with other TV partners in the past. Remember the series ?In This Corner? (which still airs) and its previous tie-ups with ABC TV and Solar Sports? I guess this was also ABS-CBN?s way of testing the waters before going on a long term (and a more lucrative) program.
Donaire?s Cebu fight in Cebu doesn?t come as a surprise to us at all. I have to admit that when ALA and ABS-CBN started talking about going around the country with Pinoy Pride events and making trips to the Middle East and the United States, I was ?jealous? that Cebu would be left behind. I would always ask at ALA presscons if Pinoy Pride wouldn?t make trips to Cebu anymore. After all, for ABS-CBN, it?s easier to do these in Manila. The problem there was that the boxing fans wouldn?t come. And so when Donaire?s fight was initially tabbed for Manila, I was obviously sad and jealous again for Cebu. I thought this was unfair. How can they ignore Cebu?s love for boxing and go to Manila where they can?t even fill up a venue? But the bad news turned into great news when Cebu was announced as the new venue for the Donaire defense.
This past week and month have been all about April 23. It seems as if the entire Cebu has been working together to make the event a successful one. Everyone from the organizers, police force, traffic command, media and ordinary fans have gotten together in an informal way under the baton of Cebu Boxing and ALA Promotions. This is something you won?t see in Manila.
Thank you to ALA Promotions, Top Rank and ABS-CBN for believing in Cebu. I can guaranty you won?t regret coming over, and you?ll come back for more. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
***
Time-out: Enroll in the BEST basketball clinic sponsored by Milo. The clinic will be conducted May 16 to 21, 2016 at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Avenue Campus Gym. For more info, check out the Facebook page BEST Center Sports-Cebu or call/text 0908-818-7784 and 0923-342-8193.
