'WORLD CUP' SET ON AUGUST 11 IN SACRAMENTO! (Updated with Photos)
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 09 Jun 2007
CEBU CITY--A press conference was held moments ago, led by top Cebu sportsman Antonio L. Aldeguer, announcing the August 11 'World Cup' of Boxing at the Arco Arena in Sacramento California.
The event will feature the three 12-round bouts, topbilled by the WBO superbantamtam showdown between Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista who will challenge the very dangerous title-holder Daniel Ponce De Leon.
The other world title bout will pit WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzales taking on the always exciting Gerry Penalosa of the Philippines.
The third 12-rounder pits an IBF light fly-weight eliminator between Filipino Bert Batawang against Mexican Francisco Rosas.
HBO Boxing After Dark will air the fights.
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista
Z "The Dream" Gorres
AJ "Bazooka" Banal
Bert Batawang
Michael Domingo
ALA Group bosses, from left, Michael Aldeguer, Atonio L. Aldeguer and Sammy Gello-ani.
The ALA Team poses with the $500,000 World Cup Throphy.
All photos by Dong Secuya.
The rest of the card pits Z 'The Dream' Gorres against a soon-to-be-announced Mexican opponent.
Young prospect AJ 'Bazooka' Banal will also take on a Mexican fighter in an 8-round battle.
Also set to go is RP bantam champion Michael Domingo who will take on Miguel Roman under the 122-lb division.
The nation that will win the most number of fights in this 7-bout event will win the Cup, according to top Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
The Filipino fighters seeing action in the card are set to fly to the US on June 25th, according to Aldeguer, while some will follow later due to pending fight schedules.
"The turning point is the decision of HBO to really grab the opportunity to have Boom Boom fight De Leon in the States. They believe that Boom Boom has the potential to become a superstar once he wins the title. So its now all systems go, August 11, 2007 Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista to challenge De Leon," said sportsman Antonio L. Aldeguer, who took part in the press conference.
"I have given my approval for the fight. In fact, ABS-CBN made a last-ditch effort to bring the fight to the Philippines, but definitely it will now be going to the US," Aldeguer informed.
"I also asked GBP to include Banal, Gorres and Amonsot to include in the card as they will be the chief sparmates for Boom Boom," Aldeguer added.
REY BAUTISTA: I am not going to say much, I will be ready for this fight. This has been my dream since childhood, my mother and father, my family have all dreamt of this. Ponce De Leon knows me, but they will soon know the real Boom Boom Bautista.
PROMOTER SAMMY GELLO-ANI: There are six bouts scheduled, but we are planning to add one more bout involving Czar Amonsot...There are also a lot of Filipinos, and also Latinos in the area.
More to come...
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