EDITO ALA Villamor was the first Filipino fighter I truly followed. My interest in the sports pages had just started, and I remember reading the results of some of his fights.
As a high school senior, I greatly anticipated his then coming fight with the legendary Ricardo Lopez, reading the updates whenever the national dailies carried it at that time. And a day after the fight? I tore through the back pages to read the result, a knockout loss to Lopez who retired with an impressive record of 51 wins, 0 loss and 1 draw. The legend reigned as a world champion from 1989 until his last fight, a knockout victory on Sept. 29, 2001. Now that?s longevity.
The only fighter to have held him to a draw is Rosendo Alvarez, another boxing legend who will also be in the corner of Yesner Talavera when he takes on Jason Pagara this Saturday in Pinoy Pride 35. The presence of the two has led the senior writers like Rico Navarro and Ronnie Nathanieslz, who was already a veteran writer before the current crop of writers were born, to quip of an Alvarez vs. Villamor match.
No guts, no glory, no money involved….in the heavyweight division.
Michael Aldeguer talked, too, of how close a Villamor vs. Alvarez match could have happened years before, while the visiting trainer showed his respect to both Aldeguer and Villamor, calling him a great boxer.
Heck, the visiting fighters were so respectful and were so thankful to ALA Promotions for giving them the chance to fight in the undercard that I had to remind myself that this Saturday, they are going to beat the crap out of each other.
I tell you, it is rare in local boxing press conferences that the spotlight goes to the trainer and it was a nice deviation from the norm. It was also my first boxing press conference in years; the last one I attended, I remember Rey Bautista, now retired, was in the main event.
During the start of the press con, Aldeguer announced yet another milestone for Cebu boxing, the Nonito Donaire Jr. title defense on April 23 at the Cebu City Sports Center, the second boxing match at the CCSC after the Z Gorres vs. Fernando Montiel match.
It was supposed to be in Manila but Aldeguer said being a Cebu-based promotions company, it was time to pay homage to the mecca of Philippine boxing and give the fans a chance to watch one of the most exciting fighters in the world.
And the venue is perfect and I expect it would be packed. The grandstand seats 8,000?comfortably?or 10,000 if you cram them jeepney-style. And if they?ll put up seats on the field to accommodate more, it could easily be the largest boxing crowd ever in Cebu.
I?m so excited for the April 23 fight that I don?t care what happens to the dead football field, which means that planned June friendly between the Azkals and a still-to-be determined team won?t be happening at CCSC. Fret not, football fans, there is still the University of San Carlos stadium as an option.
And in May, if their plans push through, Donnie Nietes will hold his title defense at CCSC too, and I don?t remember having two big events in two months ever.
Cebu boxing is more than alive and Aldeguer himself said it, there are so many prospects out there who deserve a chance.
They are not just from the ALA stable, I?m sure, boxers from other stables will benefit if big time boxing events are held regularly in Cebu. And since the April 23 event will be co-promoted by Top Rank, Bob Arum will be flying in, with a boxer or two for the card.
So, book that date. Don?t miss this chance to witness history. And of course, don?t miss the Pinoy Pride 35.
