It comes as no surprise that Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions has expressed interest on some of the fighters of the now-defunct ALA Boxing Promotions.
It makes for a good investment when you consider the fact that MP Promotions stands to sign up fighters who only need a few more seasoning before contending for major honors in the sport. It’s not like you have to develop them from the grassroot level. Sources reveal that MP Promotions is eyeing quite a number of names from the ALA Boxing pool.
Easily the most attractive name is former four-division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes. Nietes is already 38 years old and has not fought since December 2018, but Pacquiao, who is still a world champ at 41, definitely knows a thing or two about extending one’s career.
It will be recalled that Nietes opted to give up the WBO junior bantamweight (115 lbs) last year rather than face countryman Aston Palicte in a rematch. The move turned out to be a major blunder as Nietes found himself with no bargaining chip (a world title) on the negotiating table. The other champions in the weight class avoided the dangerous Nietes, leaving the Filipino to rust in the attic.
Nietes, 42-1, 5 draws with 23 knockouts, deserves an ending fit for a quadruple champion. MP Promotions yields an influential hand and can easily arrange the fight Nietes dreams. Right off the bat, a fight with WBA junior bantamweight king Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua is very interesting.
While he admits that retirement is in the cards, Nietes told this writer that he has not really made up his mind. “Hindi ko pa alam,” said Nietes. “Abang na laang kung ano ang blessing na darating. Wala pa namang negotiations ngayon at depende pa rin sa mga offers. Pine-pray ko muna na maging normal ang lahat.”
Nietes has held titles in the minimumweight (105 lbs), junior flyweight (108 lbs), flyweight (112 lbs) and junior bantamweight (115 lbs) divisions. He is on record as the longest reigning world champion in Philippine boxing history and has not lost a fight since September 2009, when he dropped a disputed decision to Indonesian Angky Angkotta.
After Nietes, another fighter MP Promotions should look into is “Prince” Albert Pagara, currently ranked No. 7 by the WBO in the junior featherweight (122 lbs) division. Pagara was ranked No. 2 by the WBO in the division and was undefeated when he was ambushed in eight rounds by Mexican Cesar Juarez in July 2016. Pagara has since racked up six straight wins, five by knockout, to return to title contention.
Pagara, 32-1, with 23 knockouts, is a talented and charismatic boxer-puncher who just needs the right motivation. An upgrade in terms of the quality of opposition is also needed for Pagara to really show his worth. Only 26 years old, Pagara still has room to improve and being placed under Pacquiao’s tutelage definitely figures to motivate him.
The third boxer from ALA Boxing that should merit attention from MP Promotions is the unbeaten Kevin Jake (KJ) Cataraja (11-0, 9 knockouts), who is ranked No. 12 by the WBO in the junior bantamweight division. Cataraja, who took some time off from the sport to finish a criminology course, comes across as the complete package, with the ability to box and mix it up. Cataraja amassed an impressive amateur resume before turning pro in 2015. He last fought in September 2019 but remained sharp by serving as one of the sparring partners for Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue when the latter was preparing for the aborted April fight with John Riel Casimero.
In its official statement, ALA Boxing declared that all the boxers under its wings are now free agents. Word is that there are Japanese promoters who are extremely interested in acquiring some of the talents from the ALA stable. Cataraja has reportedly expressed interest in bringing his fistic act to Japan, following in the footsteps of his former ALA stablemate Genesis Servania.
It will be great if Nietes, Pagara and Cataraja can stay on our shores and compete here. Then again, from where this writer sits, only MP Promotions has the financial wherewithal to make this happen.
Outside the aforementioned trio, two other boxers from ALA remain in the world rankings. Melvin Jerusalem, 15-2 with 9 knockouts, is ranked No. 1 by the WBC in the minimumweight division. Jerusalem fought for the WBC plum in 2017 and lost only points to Thai Wanheng Menayothin. Former world champion Milan Melindo, 37-5 with 13 knockouts, is ranked No. 9 by the WBC in the junior flyweight class. Melindo, though, is an enigma, having lost his last three fights, two by knockout. A more intriguing name is Jeo Santisima, who fought for the WBO junior featherweight crown in February and lost by stoppage to Mexican Emanuel Navarrete. The lanky Santisima (19-3, 16 knockouts) is only 24 years old and his career can still be reconstructed after the loss to Navarrete.
