Secret is never retire
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 15 Feb 2025
Antonio L. Aldeguer.
The man who made “Pinoy Pride” a mantra in Philippine boxing is no longer involved in the sport as he closed down the famed ALA stable in 2020 after a 35-year journey that produced world champions Donnie Nietes, Milan Melindo and Merlito Sabillo while spawning the likes of Mark Magsayo, Melvin Jerusalem, Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, AJ Banal, Edito Villamor, Malcolm Tunacao, Andy Tabanas and Jeo Santisima.
While Antonio Lopez Aldeguer, known as ALA, has ended the boxing chapter in his storybook, he’s far from retired. Now 83, ALA said the secret to a long life is never retiring. He’s passed on the responsibility of managing his many businesses to sons Jay, Michael and Chris in Cebu but ALA still drops by the office six days a week to check on records, particularly in the new pharmacy venture that is under his watch. Jay takes care of the popular Island Souvenirs, a shopping destination in airports, malls and resorts all over the country. Chris is involved with the Loalde fashion brand while Michael looks after 32 pet shops in Cebu, Dumaguete and Bohol aside from raising Golden Retrievers as the country’s No. 1 breeder.
ALA stays fit swimming and hoisting hand weights to keep toned. Family life is important to ALA who never fails to host Sunday lunch with his wife Lou for their children and grandchildren at Maria Luisa. ALA is in constant contact with brother Fer who's in Manila and sisters Terri, Laly and Ditas who are in Dumaguete.
“Too much pressure and stress,” said ALA in a conversation in Cebu last weekend. “It’s why I stopped my involvement in boxing. Three of my boxers underwent brain surgery and while they all survived, it was traumatic. I thought it was time to move on.” Two of the three were pros Z Gorres and Larry (Bon Jovi) Canillas. Even as he has stepped away from boxing, ALA’s former wards still visit him and some continue to receive allowances.
Only recently, Edito Villamor, now a successful boxing trainer operating his own gym, brought two outstanding prospects to pay their respects to ALA. The rising stars are WBA Asia superflyweight champion Reymart Tagacanao and former WBO Asia Pacific Youth minimumweight titlist Christian Balunan. Tagacanao, 25, totes a 10-0 record with eight KOs while Balunan, 25, carries a 12-0 mark with seven KOs.
“Boom Boom was our most popular boxer although he never won a world title,” said ALA. “He’s so charismatic. Whenever he would go to a restaurant, even the cooks in the kitchen came out to take a selfie.” ALA was loved by his fighters and today, his over 170 employees are as loyal. A hobby that ALA indulges with a passion is caring for animals. He’s given away his pet snakes to Nietes but in his office complex, there are four crocodiles and a monkey among others. ALA is on top of sports news, following PBA games on TV and monitoring boxing updates. He’s particularly interested if the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford showdown will take place and curious as to who will win. ALA’s recipe for a long and happy life is obviously staying active, rejecting stress, doing things you like, enjoying family, eating healthy and staving off retirement.
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