In a rare feat, the vaunted ring gladiators from Cebu’s world-renowned ALA Boxing Gym scored a perfect 4-of-4 in their respective fights abroad in just a 15-day span.
From Las Vegas to California to Russia, the promising ALA Boys quartet of Czar Amonsot, Rey Bautista, Dondon Sultan, and Z Gorres stole the thunder and proudly raised the Philippine flag with their dominating victories over foreign opposition.
Amonsot, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion, sparked the ALA Boys’ overseas invasion by overcaming a first round knockdown on the way to a 10-round shutout win over Puerto Rican Jose Reyes last May 12 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bautista, Amonsot’s fellow Boholano and WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title-holder, followed suit in spectacular fashion as the Candijay, Bohol ring executioner scored a brutal third round stoppage of Nicaraguan Roberto Bonilla last May 20 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
On that very same day, Sultan pulled off a shocking upset as he dethroned the previously undefeated Russian champion Anton Solopov in round one to seize the PABA welterweight crown at the Energetik Sports Arena in Surgut, Russia.
Gorres, the OPBF super flyweight titlist, completed the 4-0 sweep by dropping Pedro Rincon Miranda of Colombia three times – in rounds one, five, and 10 – en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory the other day at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
It was Gorres’ third straight win in the US, second for Amonsot, and fourth for “Boom Boom” Bautista.
“This only shows that the Filipino boxers, if given the chance to fight abroad, can be at par with the world’s best,” said boxing patron Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer, long-time benefactor of the ALA Boys.
Meanwhile, Gorres and ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor are be arriving in Cebu tomorrow morning. They will then proceed to the Mandaue City Hall to pay a courtesy call on Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Z. Ouano.
Afterwhich, a press conference will he held where international promoter Sammy “Don King” Gello-ani will reveal their immediate plans for the ALA Boys.
As of the moment, only Bautista is booked for a fight against Mexican Alejandro Felix Montiel in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, which hosted historic “Thrilla in Manila” featuring Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier in 1975.
