ALA Promotions will be testing new horizons as the Cebu-based promotional outfit hosts a boxing fight in Dubai on April 9.
ALA Promotions is working hand-in-hand with a Dubai-based company, KO Promotions, to feature some of the top Filipino fighters.
“We’re already close to signing a deal. It’s already at 85 to 95 percent,” said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer.
The huge boxing extravaganza in Dubai will be headlined by two of the top ALA fighters—former world title contender Rey Bautista and highly-ranked mini-flyweight Milan Melindo.
Bautista and Milendo’s opponents haven’t been named yet, but Aldeguer said it will be announced next week, as soon as the details of the promotion have been sorted out.
KO Promotions, which has been working out a deal with ALA Promotions since last year, is one of the top kickboxing promotional companies in Dubai.
Injury
Bautista, 23, aggravated his left wrist after an impressive seventh-round stoppage over Indonesian Maragin Marbun, last Oct. 16 in Cebu City, in his ring return after an 11-month layoff due to the wrist surgery.
However, Aldeguer believes the hard-hitting Boholano will be ready to headline the big card in Dubai, because the wrist injury wasn’t serious.
“He’s not feeling pain on his wrist anymore. However, we will not know if it will reccur, until the actual fight,” said Aldeguer. “The fight is in a month and he’s ready to go.”
Aldeguer said Bautista has been training and is focusing on his footwork and defense.
Rematch
He added Bautista’s upcoming fight will be their gauge if “BoomBoom” is ready to redeem himself in a rematch with Mexican veteran Heriberto Ruiz.
“A fight with Ruiz can happen this year if ‘Boom-Boom’ is impressive this April,” said the promoter.
Ruiz defeated Bautista on Nov. 22, 2008 via a unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
Aside from Bautista and Melindo, Aldeguer said the Dubai card will be packed with Filipino fighters which May include up-and-coming talents Jason Pagara, Lary Canillas and James Bacon.
