OCTOBER 8, 2011 has been etched in the annals of Bacolod history as the day that the City of Smiles stamped its indelible mark in the world boxing map and in the sports tourism scene.
On this day, ALA Promotions and media giant ABS-CBN, in cooperation with the Province of Negros Occidental headed by Governor Alfredo G. Mara?on, Jr. and the City of Bacolod under Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, presented the boxing card Pinoy Pride 9 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
A sidelight of the pugilistic extravaganza featured Bacolod?s Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo?s successful bid to grab the vacant Orient Pacific Boxing Federation minimumweight diadem.
The highlight of the fight card, however, was local boxing hero Donnie Nietes? triumphant campaign to wrest the World Boxing Organization junior flyweight belt from Mexican champion Ramon Garcia and, in the process, win his second world title.
For the capital city of Sugarlandia, Pinoy Pride 9 has a three-fold historic significance.
For one, it is the first-ever world boxing title fight hosted by the city. Second, it is the first time that a local boxer gets to fight for the world title right here in his own backyard.
And third, by grabbing Garcia?s belt, Donnie Nietes has become the first Bacole?o to win two world titles in separate weight divisions, as well as one of the select few Filipino boxers who won more than one world title. The former janitor in the boxing gym of ALA Promotions has now joined the ranks of Bacolod?s adopted son pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, Gerry and Dodie Boy Pe?alosa, Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Brian Viloria.
That the monumental event transpired under the watch of Games and Amusement Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon, a former Bacolod councilor and true-blue boxing patron, is icing on the cake.
Thanks to ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN, we were given the opportunity to prove to the sporting world that Bacolod City and Negros Occidental can successfully host world-class sporting events like Pinoy Pride 9.
