SO SAD ALA BOXING CLOSES
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 20 Aug 2020
The sad news broke out all over the world of boxing. ALA Gym closes after 35 years. I received an emailed Official Statement stating that "After 35 years, ALA BOXING (ALA Promotions and ALA Gym) would like to say Farewell and Thank you to our supporters from all over the World."
The main reasons of course are the Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of their long time broadcast network partner ABS-CBN which according to them "has affected the over-all situation and future of the company."
The statement further informed us that all their fighters will be released for them to be able to "look for greener pastures for their respective careers."
Our Maasin City boxers, especially the Pagara Brothers Jason and Albert, found a home at the ALA Gym through their grand patriarch Antonio L. Aldeguer.
Jason became WBO international junior welterweight champion. He was ranked No. 1 WBO world contender in the said category.
Albert became WBO and IBF intercontinental superbantamweight champion. He was ranked WBO No. 3 world contender in that division.
Both fighting brothers fought in a series of boxing cards in their birth place with the Maasin City Gym jampacked with thousands of cheering kababayans.
They fought in what we called Maasin Pride series featuring five boxing events and the very successful Pinoy Pride 44, all supported by ALA Sports Promotions.
ALA also spearheaded two Visayas Inter-Cities Developmental Boxing Tournaments in Maasin City to discover new talents from the amateur ranks.
Almost every fiesta boxing tournaments, including Southern Leyte founding anniversaries, amateur fighters from ALA Boxing stable would compete in Maasin.
They also participated in the ABAP National Boxing Championships and the Visayas Qualifying Leg hosted by the city and their boxers won several gold medals.
Whenever this writer visited the world class ALA Gym in Banilad, Cebu City, I was always warmly welcomed by Sir ALA who never failed to attend a single practice of his fighters in his luxurious facilities.
The ALA Gym website stated that "Founded in 1986 by Mr. Aldeguer, the ALA Boxing Gym started out as a small time gym training kids from below average families to become amateur fighters. Decades later, ALA Boxing has evolved into the Philippines’ biggest boxing stable producing the country’s best amateur and professional champions in the ring."
It simply started out as a training ground for few young and promising boxers and housed "more than fifty fighters and trains more than a hundred local and foreign amateur and professional fighters."
The Gym was run by Gym Manager Edito Villamor and Boxing Chief Trainer Edmundo Villamor.
For years, ALA Gym has trained some of the nation’s boxing legends like Gerry Penalosa, Malcom “Eagle Eye” Tunacao, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, Noel “The Eel” Tunacao, and Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol, among others.
According to Sec. Manny Piñol in his PhilBoxing article dated December 3, 2008: "There is no other Filipino boxing patron whose dedication to the sport and love for his young wards is as deep as that of Cebu City's Antonio L. Aldeguer, the man behind the popular ALA Boxing Gym."
Salute to that Sir. Hope there will be a "rematch" for ALA Boxing when the Pandemic is over.
Photo shows the author with Antonio L. Aldeguer at the ALA Boxing Gym.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino IM Bagamasbad prevails
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024DC girl’s futsal in Palawan now
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu is ready to face challenge
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Dante Kirkman Secures First Career Knockout with 3rd Round TKO Victory
Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino Middleweight Star Blazen Rocili Set to Return to the Ring This Saturday in San Antonio, TX
Thu, 21 Nov 2024