You get hit; you take a knee. But before the count reaches 10, you get back on your feet and head back to the action and salvage a victory. You do not just give in to the pain.
For over three decades, ALA Boxing Promotions unloaded some mean shots, occasionally covered up along the ropes but always made it a point to beat the 10-count and jump back to the action. Unfortunately, the tide of battle has completely turned this year and with the novel coronavirus literally putting to a halt all sporting activities, ALA Boxing, like a battle-scarred boxer, has decided to finally hang up the gloves.
The announcement from ALA Boxing early this week came out of the blue and caught many boxing fans off guard. In its official statement, ALA Boxing cited the pandemic and the closure of its broadcast network partner, ABS-CBN Corp., as the primary reasons behind its decision to close up.
It has been quite a journey for ALA Boxing. It all started in 1985, when Antonio Lopez Aldeguer started introducing street kids to the rudiments of boxing. Aldeguer started building formidable amateur teams. The migration to the pro ranks predictably followed.
In the pros, ALA’s first fighter of note was Edito “Ala” Villamor, a power-punching southpaw who fought from 1986 to 1997. Davao del Sur native Villamor went unbeaten in his first 24 fights (with 1 draw) before being stopped in seven rounds by Thai Ratanapol Sor Vorapin in June 1993 in a battle for the IBF minimumweight (105 lbs) championship. Villamor paraded paralyzing power, but hand injuries also hounded him throughout his career. After being stopped in eight rounds by WBC minimumweight champ Ricardo Lopez in March 1996, Villamor retired with a record of 29-2, 1 draw, 26 knockouts.
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ALA Boxing had to deal with several heartaches in its long journey, but one that really hit home was the fate that befell one of its most talented fighters, Z Gorres. Gorres fought from 2001 to 2009, his career cut short by the head injuries he sustained in a November 2009 match with Luis Melendez in Las Vegas. Gorres actually won the fight by decision, but when he returned to his corner he suddenly couldn’t move his legs. He fell over and ended up suffering a subdural hematoma, a form of brain hemorrhage, on the left side of his skull.
Gorres survived the ordeal but never fought again. If not for the career-ending injury, Gorres would have been a world champion. He offered excellent footwork and great hand speed. Gorres fought for the WBO junior bantamweight (115 lbs) title in February 2007 and lost a controversial split decision to Mexican Fernando Montiel. A year later, Gorres held power-puncher Vic Darchinyan to a spirited draw.
For all the heartbreaks, there were moments of triumph. In September 2007, Donnie Nietes, a former janitor at the ALA Gym, won the WBO minimumweight title with a decision over Thai Pornsawan Porpramook. Finally, ALA Boxing had a world champion and Nietes ended up becoming the longest reigning champion in Philippine boxing history.
In May 2017, Milan Melindo gave ALA Boxing another world title when he knocked out Japan’s Akira Yaegashi in one round for the IBF light flyweight (108 lbs) championship. Melindo made one successful defense before yielding the crown to Ryoichi Taguchi in December 2017.
Easily the pride and joy of ALA Boxing was its “Pinoy Pride” boxing series that was carried by ABS-CBN. The fight card, mostly held in Cebu, gave local boxers and fight fans their own playground. Pinoy Pride featured promising prospects and world title fights involving Filipino boxers. At the height of its popularity, Pinoy Pride drew impressive TV ratings and became a regular weekend habit for fight fans. Pinoy Pride lasted nine years and featured 46 shows, the last one being hosted by Ormoc City in August 2019. The card was headlined by Maasin City, Leyte native and current world title contender “Prince” Albert Pagara.
All the boxers under contract with ALA are now free agents. One can readily see other promotional outfits bidding for the services of veteran Nietes and promising prospects Pagara and KJ Cataraja.
Life will go on for local fight fans, but the contributions of ALA Boxing will never be forgotten.
Pinoy Pride. Forever.
