NEW YEAR'S BIG BANG: 'WORLD CUP' ON MARCH 4
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 31 Dec 2006
CEBU CITY--A major announcement was made today by SGG Sports Promotion/ALA Boxing Gym and the Golden Boy Promotions stating that the second edition of the "World Cup" of boxing will take place on March 4 here in the city.
"The World Cup between the Philippines and Mexico is on," said promoter Sammy Gello-ani in announcing the latest development to the media at a press conference at an upscale restaurant.
According to Gello-ani, the date has been approved by the Golden Boy Promotions to give way to the mammoth March 17 Marco Antonio Barrera-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown.
WBO vice-president for Asia Pacific Leon Panoncillo, who flew in just to make the formal confirmation, also announced that the World Cup already has the blessing of WBO president Paco Valcarcel, and that GBP president Oscar De la Hoya and his partners Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley are expected to fly to Cebu for the event. Also set to grace the event are GBP CEO Richard Schaefer and international matchmaker non-pareil Sampson 'Picasso' Lewkowicz.
WBO Vice-President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo (center) announces to the Cebu media the upcoming WBO Boxing World Cup to be held in Cebu on March 4 while ALA Boys manager Michael Aldeguer (L) and promoter Sammy Gello-ani listen. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Top photo caption: ON TO WORLD CUP, from left, ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, AJ Banal, WBO executive Leon Panoncillo, Boom Boom Bautista, Z Gorres and promoter Sammy Gello-ani. Photo by Dong Secuya.
The event, the biggest to happen in the country in the last ten years, will feature WBO superbantam king Daniel Ponce De Leon defending his title against the undefeated Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista, while WBO superfly kingpin Fernando Montiel will also defend his title against Z 'The Dream' Gorres.
A planned WBO bantam showdown between reigning champ Jhonny Gonzalez and Gerry Penalosa is still being worked out, although organizers inform that should the Gonzalez camp insist on not fighting, they might replace that with the WBO junior flyweight defense of Hugo Cazares possibly against Bert Batawang.
Also in attendance at today's press conference were ALA gym owner Tony Aldeguer and son Michael, who manages the fighters, as well as Bautista, Gorres, and unbeaten young sensation Alex John Banal.
"Both Rey Bautista and Z Gorres are ready for their respective opponents, so this will be a great and exciting card," stressed Michael Aldeguer.
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