THE US’ emerging boxing outfit—Golden Boy Promotions (GBP)—is setting their sight on signing more Filipino fighters.
And two of the country’s latest boxing stars are at the top of their list—Rey “Boom-Boom” Bauista and AJ Banal.
GBP sat down with ALA Boys manager Michael Aldeguer, SGG Sports Promotions’ Sammy Gello-ani to talk of a long term contract for Bautista and AJ Banal after Bautista’s win over Argentina’s Sergio Manuel Medina last Sunday. That fight was named by HBO as the best fight of “The World Awaits” card.
“Actually, they were talking of a partnership. ALA Gym and SGG in partnership with Golden Boy Promotions, that would be a milestone,” the young Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
He said, GBP wants to sign Bautista and Banal to a three-year contract and not just to a certain number of fights as what was done last year.
Bautista and Z Gorres signed up with GBP in March 2006 for a five-fight promotional deal.
Bautista has already fought four times, and the last one will be the biggest—a world title bout as stated by the contract they signed when GBP vice president Eric Gomez and International matchmaker Sampson Lewckowicz first came to the Philippines. Gorres, on the other hand, still has three more fights.
“They (GBP) want to make Bautista big and they want Banal very much, ever since Eric and Sampson laid their eyes on the boy. That is why we had a thorough discussion with the Golden Boy executives after the fight (The World Awaits card). We can probably finish this deal next week. And if we can finalize the deal then, we will call up a press conference for this matter,” Aldeguer added.
GBP currently has Bautista, Gorres, Pe?alosa, Diosdado Gabi and Jimrex Jaca, and Banal will be an addition soon in its growing list of Filipino prospects.
Meanwhile, the celebration of Bautista’s homecoming continued yesterday as a grander street parade was tagged in Tagbilaran City.
“Yesterday’s (last Friday) event was just a welcome event for them. We had prepared a bigger activity, where they had to go on a caravan around all the city streets, for them today (yesterday)” Mayor Dan Neri Lim’s executive secretary Mark Monton told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
While last Friday’s motorcade was limited only to the main streets of the city, yesterday, Bautista and Banal were paraded in all streets of the city.
“We did this so that the people who were not able to see them during their arrival would see them both. Everybody in Tagbilaran City is proud of them, they are their heroes and we want the kids to emulate them. Not as boxers but as an inspiration to be successful,” Monton added.
