ALA PLANS BIG OCTOBER CARD IN DUBAI
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Apr 2010
The integrity of KO Promotions Zac Taumafai and his passion to promote boxing in Dubai along with ALA Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN, despite being gypped by a couple of Filipinos who promised to bring Bobby Pacquiao for the main event and also have Manny Pacquiao attend the fights, has prompted ALA Promotions to move ahead with plans for a big October fight card in Dubai.
Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer of the famed ALA Promotions said they want to help the KO Promotions owner for all he had gone through because he was sincere and there is a need to rectify the damage done to the country and its reputation by unscrupulous individuals.
ALA Gym president Michael Aldeguer who headed the team that went to Dubai and spent considerable time with Taumafai said they were looking at matching junior welterweight Mark Jason Melligen against Mexican legend Erik ?El Terrible? who is on a comeback and even including fighters outside the ALA stable to spice up the card.
Although Melligen belongs to the ALA Gym, Aldeguer said they would have to discuss details with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who is currently promoting Melligen in the US where he recently scored an impressive ten round unanimous decision over the highly touted Norberto Gonzalez of Mexico in Las Vegas.
Aldeguer also informed us that WBO No.1 ranked Milan Melindo who scored a smashing 4th round TKO over game challenger Komrit Twins Gym to retain his WBC Youth Intercontinental title and was well received by fight fans would be included in the card along with popular Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista who was a hit with the fans in Dubai and won over gutsy, hard-hitting Saichon Sotornpitak by a 6th round TKO.
While the response among Filipinos in Dubai was dampened by the news that Bobby Pacquiao had retired and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao wouldn?t attend because of the crucial stage of his election campaign and the decision to push through with the scaled-down card was made only one week before the event, both Taumafai and Aldeguer were confident that the future looks bright.
Michael Aldeguer confirmed that ?we are looking at a big one and are looking at the promotional side of it already. We need a fight at that level? referring to a Morales-Melligen bout. Aldeguer also conceded that they wouldn?t depend on a Dubai-based outfit to cover the event and would work with ABS-CBN Sports vice president Peter Musngi on the television coverage in October to assure a first class TV spectacle.
Taumafai revealed that he had lost a huge down payment advanced on the large Dubai Tennis Club venue since he was assured that the Pacquiao brothers would be there and had to move to Chi, The Lodge when he learned that he had been fed false promises and was forced to downscale the event which nevertheless won praise from Filipino and foreign fight fans who showed up at the venue and were treated to some exciting action.
However, Taumafai was able to apparently convince the Tennis Club management to use the down payment as an advance for the October fight card which they agreed to which clearly needs a top draw main event and a major promotional campaign.
Top photo: Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista sends Thai opponent Saichon Sotornpitak to the canvas in a first round action during their encounter last Friday in Dubai. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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