ALA Gym Boys Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista and Z “The Dream” Gorres signed up with international promoter Golden Boy Promotions of boxing superstar Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya yesterday.
Bautista, Gorres, their manager Antonio Lopez Aldeguer and promoter Sammy Gello-ani signed the contract with Golden Boy Promotions Inc. vice president and matchmaker Eric Gomez.
Also present during the contract signing at the City Sports Club-Cebu Sinulog 3 room were Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, who is one of the advisers of ALA Gym, Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, ALA Boys international agent Michael Koncz and WBO Asia-Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo Jr.
Aldeguer and Gomez did not divulge the terms of the contract but both parties are very satisfied with the deal.
“You know me, I don’t sign contracts,” said Aldeguer. “But this one is the simplest and the fairest contract I’ve ever read. So I was convinced to sign it.”
Gomez said: “All I can assure you is that the boxers will be happy and all the Filipino people will be happy. This contract is for our own consumption but I can assure you, nothing in here is disadvantageous to Boom-Boom and Gorres.”
A source privy to the deal told Sun.Star Cebu that the contract was a five-fight deal that will start on May 20 in the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera’s title defense of his WBC 130-pound title against Ricardo Juarez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Highlighting the event was a teleconference between the media and Oscar de la Hoya, who is currently training in Puerto Rico with Freddie Roach for his upcoming fight against Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light-middleweight title on May 6 in Las Vegas.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Antonio Aldeguer and Sammy Gello-ani for giving us this opportunity,” de la Hoya said over a cellular phone patch.
RP visit
“We will announce the alliance between them and the Golden Boy Promotions for our projects with the Filipino boxers. I would really love to come to the Philippines but I am training in Puerto Rico right now for my May fight with Mayorga.
“But I am sure one day I will come to the Philippines to see you all.”
De la Hoya said he will promote fights with the SGG Promotions in the Philippines, with a “sky’s the limit” budget.
Among de la Hoya’s plans for the Philippines is his pet project the World Cup Boxing, which will feature the best boxers of two nations in world-title fights, where the champion country will get a $200,000-worth gold cup from world-famous jeweler IceLink Watch.
The World Cup Boxing started with a match last year between top-notch boxers from Mexico and Thailand on Oct. 29 at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tuczon, Arizona. Mexico won the match, 5-1.
Against Mexico
This time, it will be Mexico versus the Philippines.
“We have been working for this project for quite a while and I am glad to announce that ALA Gym and Golden Boy Promotions will jointly promote Filipino boxers and make the next boxing superstar in the Philippines,” said Gomez. “We will start doing promotions here.”
Lewkowicz, who was responsible for giving Manny Pacquiao his first fight in the US, believes that Bautista will be the next big thing from the Philippines.
“When I saw Boom-Boom, I said to myself this boy is the next Manny Pacquiao but when I saw Gorres I thought to myself, there are a lot more in the Philippines,” said Lewkowicz.
Title fight
“This partnership took us months to finalize. I’m glad for both ALA Gym and SGG Promotions because the Philippines is the new generation of boxing.”
De la Hoya wished Gorres luck in his fight tonight against Thai Waengpetch Chuwatana. The two will battle for the vacant Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation super-flyweight title at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
“Good luck to Gorres, who will fight this Saturday. He is a good fighter and I believe he is worth all our efforts,” de la Hoya said.
Yesterday, Gorres and Chuwatana tipped the scales at exactly 115lb, but Chuwatana.
