Up and coming boxers Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Z Gorres yesterday formally hooked up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in a significant contract signing held yesterday at the Cebu City Sport Club in Cebu City.
Wednesday morning GBP Vice-president & matchmaker Eric Gomez along with international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz arrived in the country to finalize the deal with Cebu businessman Tony Aldeguer and Cebuano promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
Though terms of the contract were not discussed, a source disclosed that the deal involves more on developing Filipino fighters as major players in the lucrative sport of boxing.
What made the deal momentous was when De La Hoya made himself available to local press people by announcing the agreement via teleconference.
“Filipino boxers and Mexican boxers are the best warriors inside the ring. And when Manny Pacquiao demonstrated that he was the best when he fought and knocked out Marco Antonio Barrera, that convinced me to work with Filipino boxers” stated Dela Hoya in the said teleconference from Puerto Rico.
For starters, Bautista and Gorres will appear on the undercard of the 12-round World Boxing Council (WBC) 130lb title fight between Marco Antonio Barrera and challenger Ricardo Rocky Juarez.
The Barrera-Juarez title fight, which is being promoted by GBP, will take place on May 20 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Gorres’ and Bautista’s opponents will still be finalized in the coming weeks.
Aldeguers widely-recognized ALA Boxing Gym produced several world champions for the country that include Gerry Penalosa, brothers Malcolm and Noel Tunacao, Joma Gamboa and a slew of upcoming fighters like Rodel Mayol, Randy Suico and Yukka Gejon.
ALA are the initials of Aldeguers name.
Also launched yesterday was the RP vs. Mexico World Cup of Boxing slated to happen in November.
A brainchild of De La Hoya, the Boxing World Cup will pit the best fighters of two countries in a series of championship fights for the honor and prestige of being crowned the ultimate world champion.
At stake in the event, apart from the regular purses for fighters, is a $200,000 gold cup crafted by the world famous jeweler IceLink Watch.
The first outing of the World Cup happened October of last year pitting Mexico versus Thailand. The intense six-fight competition saw Mexico dominating the Thais, 5-1.
Meanwhile, all is set for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superflyweight title fight tonight between Gorres and Waenpetch Chuwatana of Thailand. The 12-round bout will be held at the Mandaue Sports and Cultural Complex in Mandaue City.
