Cebuano boxing fans deserve a blockbuster boxing event that?s why ALA Promotions International CEO Michael Aldeguer, in cooperation with Top Rank and broadcast giant ABS-CBN, is bringing in two of the most exciting ring fighters today to headline ?The Time Has Come: Donaire-Bedak? on April 23 at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
?Why go to Las Vegas to watch world class boxing when Cebu can put up this kind of event?? said Aldeguer during yesterday?s launching of the card to be headlined by WBO Super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and Hungarian challenger Zsolt Bedak.
The launch was held at the Marriott Cebu City Hotel with ALA Boxing Gym fighters Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo (13-0, 10KO) and Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara (37-2-0, 23KO) who are fighting in the under card.
Top Rank big boss Bob Arum and WBO President Franciso Valcarcel are reportedly coming over to watch the April 23 slambang. Donaire and Bedak were not in the press conference as they have yet to arrive in the country.
Donaire will be in Manila on April 4 and will arrive in Cebu on April 16 along with his trainer and father Nonito Sr. He is currently training in Las Vegas, USA.
The Cebu card will be Donaire?s first defense of his WBO super bantamweight title which he snatched last year from Oscar Juarez in Puerto Rico. The last time CCSC hosted a boxing event was in 2007 when Z Gorres battled Mexican Fernando Montiel.
CCSC has a 30,000 seating capacity and Aldeguer is hoping that it will be filled on fight night. The cheapest ticket costs only P50 while the most expensive costs P10,000 for VIP front row.
?We really wanted to do this for the past years, but Nonito was still pursuing the world title at that time. Now it?s finally happening and I hope it will be a night to remember for all of us,? Aldeguer added.
CAREER-DEFINING BOUTS
Magsayo of Bohol will face former world title challenger Chris Avalos (26-4-0, 19KOs) of the USA for the WBO International Featherweight title while Pagara, the top lightweight contender in the world, will face Mexican Miguel ?Mikol? Zamudio (35-8-1, 21KOs) of Mexico in a non-title duel.
?Both of them are in formidable divisions. This is a great chance for them to show to the world what they are made of. I think they are aware what is at stake for them if they win impressively,? Aldeguer said.
?Winning against Avalos will be a great start to introduce myself to the world,? said the 20-year-old Magsayo.
Pagara, on the other hand, is raring to make a big comeback after a five-month layoff. ?I fought last October but I am always training at the gym. I am thankful for this opportunity and I promise to give everything I got to score an impressive victory,? said Pagara, who scored a smashing second-round stoppage of Nicaraguan Santos Benavides in Pinoy Pride?s first event in the US.
Two other ALA pugs are fighting in the under card including two-time world title challenger Rocky ?Road Warrior? Fuentes and Jeo ?Santino? Santisima.
Fuentes (36-8, 21KOs) will meet Romnick ?Daredevil? Magos (12-5, 7KOs), while Santisima (9-2, 8KOs) will face his first foreign foe in Tabthong Tor Buamas (14-3, 12KOs) of Thailand.
