TONY ALDEGUER does not give radio/TV interviews. He just isn’t comfortable with that, although he is one of the most articulate in the boxing business. He is fluent in English and Spanish, can get by with Tagalog, and mixes Cebuano and Ilonggo words; the better to reach more Visayans, I guess.
But sit him down with someone who wants to talk about boxing sans microphone and cameras, and he could go on forever. Manager and benefactor of countless Filipino boxers, owner of one of the most modern, organized and bustling boxing gyms in the country—the ALA gym in Talamban, Cebu City, Aldeguer is into boxing as fish is into water.
Not that boxing is the be-all and end-all of his existence, because he is a successful businessman, with varied interests in garments, food, health supplements and fitness (he owns the Fight Club, a fitness gym also in Cebu). But boxing is a passion for him, and never mind that he has lost quite a sum in his boxing ventures, he is a firm believer that someday he will produce a champion in the mold of a Manny Pacquiao.
And recently, Aldeguer has had more reason to believe that the realization of that dream is at hand. He has received firm offers from top boxing promoters in the States to send his boxers there to fight. And when we say top outfits, we mean such world-renowned names as Golden Boy Promotions headed by no less than Oscar de la Hoya himself, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.
Over the week-end Bulletin correspondent/newscaster Dennis Principe and I met with Aldeguer and his associate Sammy Gello-Ani in Cebu, and Aldeguer was so upbeat about the interest shown by the two top American-based outfits. “This is the big chance we have been waiting for. Finally, the Filipino boxer is gaining the respect and recognition he deserves and we have Manny Pacquiao to thank for this,” Aldeguer gushed over bangus skin chicharon and fried baby shrimps that went well with ice-cold beer which served as appetizer at his beautiful home in Banilad district.
And at dinner at a swank fusion restaurant at the Banilad Shopping Center, Aldeguer continued to exude enthusiasm at the possibilities now open to local boxers. But he and Gello-Ani are equally upbeat about a big card they are promoting this Saturday at the Mandaue Sports Center. This will feature ALA boys Z Gorres and Czar Amonsot going up against tough Thai fighters. Gorres (22-1-1;12 KO’s). Fresh from a demolition job on Mexican Jose Alfredo Tirado in Las Vegas Nevada, goes for the vacant OPBF super-flyweight crown against veteran Waengpetch Chuwatana (23-7-2; 14 KO’s). Amonsot fights Decha Bankluaygym. Other matches include another international fight and a Philippine championship.
Cebuanos are expected to flock to the Mandaue Sports Center this Saturday for the exciting card. As Tony Aldeguer points out time and again to all who care to listen, “this is how the journey starts for the Filipino boxer, whom we will never stop supporting in his campaign to get the world recognition he richly deserves”.
And as we have also said many times in this corner, we support these courageous men who give up so much in the search for boxing fame and national pride.
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Last Saturday, we wrote about the fund-raiser being organized for colleagues Bert Cuevas, Manila Standard Today’s sports editor and sportscaster Butch Maniego, who are both in dire financial straits due to serious complications as a result of diabetes.
In our excitement, we failed to mention that the affair is slated on Monday, March 20 at Merk’s Bar Bistro at Greenbelt 2 in Makati from 7 p.m. onwards.
Several performers are slated to perform gratis et amore for our two dear colleagues and it is hoped that well-meaning entities, personal and corporate will respond to our call for assistance.
Appropriately, the affair is called “Big Assist for Bert and Butch.” See you there.
