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BAUTISTA, BANAL FACE CEBU MEDIA! By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Fri, 11 May 2007  CEBU CITY--Undefeated Filipino fighters Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista and AJ 'Bazooka' Banal arrived here today from Manila following their successful stint on the record-breaking 'The World Awaits' card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. From the airport, the two fighters proceeded to the Cebu City Marriott Hotel for a press conference hosted by the hotel. Also present at the dais were the boxers' manager Michael Aldeguer, Cebu City Councilor Sylvan 'Jack' Jakosalem, promoter Sammy Gello-ani, and trainer Edito 'Ala' Villamor. Jakosalem, a hugely popular councilor here due to his love for sports, said that the city government will try its best to have the 'World Cup' of boxing staged in this city. The proceeding was rather emotional as the two fighters and their trainer recounted all their hardships in training, and the mood became somber when everybody was informed that well-loved boxing godfather Antonio L. Aldeguer could not make it as he is still in the US attending to his ailing mother. Jack Hall, the ALA Gym's chaplain, then led a beautiful prayer at the end part of the proceeding, asking for the immediate recovery of Anicia Lopez-Aldeguer, the mother of the boxing patron and grandmother of Michael Aldeguer. Here's what the boxers and their handlers had to say at the press conference held minutes ago; MICHAEL ALDEGUER: First of all in behalf of the ALA Gym I would like to welcome everyone. It was a really, really great experience to be part of the biggest boxing in history. In behalf of Rey Bautista and AJ Banal i would like to thank everyone for the support. Boom Boom had a very tough fight, Medina came to fight. AJ Banal had a win. I would like again to thank everyone for the support. SAMMY GELLO-ANI: Good morning to everyone, to the tri-media group, to the guests and everybody. Of course i would like to thank Marriott for the press conference today...I think everybody is waiting for a big news...I think it is just the finishing touches that are missing...As long as we all cooperate and we all unite, great things will happen in the next few months. Our experience in Las Vegas was tremendous in the sense that we were part in the biggest event in the history of boxing. Yesterday it was already disclosed that the event generated as much as 2.3 Million pay-per-view buys...The show was televised to 176 countries... These are the things that we have attained, and we thank the Golden Boy Promotions for that exposure...There was a moment that the fight of AJ Banal was about to be cancelled due to the time limitation. We were already on top of the ring, and HBO had wanted to cancel the fight of Banal. But i was able to convince them not to cancel, and HBO wanted to make it six, instead, we came up with a solution to make it just an 8-rounder instead of ten...So this is a very good exposure for AJ Banal, first time for him in an international scene, but under a very big card...The Golden Boy people are so enthusiastic and eager to come to the Philippines. We have proven that we can do it here in the Philippines. Anything that can be done in Las Vegas can also be done here in Cebu...Oscar De la Hoya says he wants to come. Shane Mosley too said he said he has heard that the Philippines is a beautiful country. And Bernard Hopkins is also interested to come. Must be because Eric Gomez has told them Cebu is nice. Oscar had told Boom Boom and AJ he will be coming to Cebu...To all the media, i'm very happy of your support to boxing. Philippine boxing has been getting interest lately. Thank you for supporting the boxing industry. To Cebu City government, through Councilor Jack Jakosalem, for the support, especially for the July 7 event, i think it is already a done deal. 
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista. 
AJ "Bazooka" Banal. 
Cebu City councilor Jack Jakosalem (left) and promoter Sammy Gello-ani. 
Boxing manager Michael P. Aldeguer. 
ALA Boxing Club chief trainer Edtio Villamor. COUNCILOR JACK JAKOSALEM: I would like to congratulate Sam Gello-ani...Congratulations to Boom Boom Bautista and AJ Banal...The Cebu City government will make sure that they do everything they can to bring the 'World Cup' in Cebu City...The 'Moment of Truth' card was a test for us, it was a test in peace and order, and in every aspect that was needed to make it successful. And of course it was very successful so we are committed to have the 'World Cup' in Cebu City. I'm sure there will be many businessmen who are willing to help this, and I'm sure there will be many who will be willing to invest, to bring this to Cebu. Thank you very much. (Mayor Tommy Osmena is also extending his congratulations to Boom Boom Bautista and AJ Banal) TRAINER EDITO VILLAMOR: Thank you to all the media members for the support, to Councilor Jack Jakosalem, to our promoter Sammy Gello-ani, to Michael Aldeguer our manager, and to Penrex, that gives us power. I am going to share with you the training aspect. We trained in three countries, from the Philippines, then two weeks in Los Angeles, USA and then three weeks in Puerto Rico...I am happy because we got to spend time with Oscar De la Hoya, he gives inspiration to the two boys. Oscar would often tell us, 'You know, im already a six-division world champion, but i am still a student of the sport.' After he is done in his daily training, Oscar would fix his things alone, and would drive himself to the gym with no bodyguards. I told Boom Boom and AJ to emulate Oscar, no big head, very low-profile and humble. Thanks for all the love and support, our training in Puerto Rico was such a hard work, but we made it through. REY 'BOOM BOOM' BAUTISTA: I am very thankful to the Lord for this win. This is for the country, for Cebu and for Bohol. We faced tremendous hardship in training. One time, we didn't have lunch yet, and it was very hot and we were going to the gym. I cried on the street of Puerto Rico. People were passing by me. I asked myself, 'Why did I come to this place?' We had to buy our own food at Walgreens, up in the mountains. Coach Edito would sit on the side of the street while waiting for the green light, sweat dripping off his face. I had a really difficult fight with Medina. But i showed to everyone that I'm a Filipino, I'm a warrior...I thank Oscar and his team for the nice gesture they gave us while we were in Puerto Rico. AJ 'BAZOOKA' BANAL: I thank everyone for the support. I thank my mother for the love and inspiration. I thank my manager, Sir ALA, Sir Sammy and my coach for all the guidance all through the years. And I am grateful to Oscar De la Hoya and his group for the nice treatment we got while training in Puerto Rico. I am ready for my next fight, and to the media, thank you so much for all the articles. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.  |
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