THE THRILLA IS BACK AT ARANETA
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 30 Nov 2013
Manila, Philippines -- The site of the greatest boxing match of all time will take center stage again tonight with a stacked card that will feature two of the country's three remaining world champions.
Donnie "Ahas" Nietes, the WBO light flyweight champ and Merlito "Tiger" Sabillo the WBO minimumweight title holder will defend their titles against their respective challengers at the famed Araneta Center, once host to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's epic "Thrilla in Manila."
Nietes and Sabillo of ALA Promotions, the country's top boxing promotional outfit are the co-headliners of tonight's card alongside other named stable mates who will be facing opponents from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic in their popular Pinoy Pride series, this one aptly dubbed as "Filipinos Kontra Latinos."
"It's been an honor. We worked with Araneta and we've talked about this for the longest time." said Michael Aldeguer, CEO of ALA Promotions.
"Right now, they want to do Pinoy Pride in Araneta and we also wanted to be part of it. Nietes is going to be on his sixth year as a world champion, next year is going to be his seventh year. If he wins tonight, maybe next year he's going to be able to beat the record of Flash Elorde so it's historic again," Aldeguer told Philboxing.com.
L-R: Milan Melindo, WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, Jason Pagara and AJ Banal headline tonight's full-packed Pinoy Pride XXIII card at the Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Nietes is a world champion since 2007, beginning with the WBO 105 pound belt and then winning his current title in 2011. The boxer out of Bacolod has been unbeaten in nine years since 2004 and will be squaring off against former world champion and top contender, Sammy Gutierrez of Mexico.
Sabillo, also from Bacolod, is in his third defense of his crown which he won last year. The very active 29 year old fighter is undefeated in his whole career and he wants to keep it that way tonight against a fellow unbeaten challenger and the WBO's interim champion, Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua. Only one will be left with a perfect mark after tonight and also the legitimate king of the 105 class.
"There's a lot of memories in Araneta, this is the first fight of Nietes here, one of the longest world champion now. Hopefully this will be the start of something big in the next few years," expressed the youthful Aldeguer.
The loaded card according to Aldeguer is one way to show the world that the Philippines can be a major player in the staging of big boxing events and the historic Araneta Coliseum can restart that trend tonight.
"We want to show the world that we have the one of the biggest arena, we have the best arena where Ali and Frazier fought, we have the best fighters and that we can also stage world class events in our own country. Why go to Las Vegas when you can stage world class events in our country. We want to showcase something big."
The arena which is also known as "The Big Dome" owing to its spherical shaped architecture is the biggest indoor arena in the country and the world's biggest when it opened its doors in 1960.
Thirty eight years ago, it hosted what until today is considered the greatest bout of the sport between Ali and Frazier on October 1, 1975. It also played venue to the country's boxing great, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde in its inaugural offering in 1960. Twenty six thousand boxing crazy fans witnessed him knock out Harold Gomes for the Junior lightweight title.
Current boxing superstars, Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire also fought in the historic venue in recent years.
"It's just a matter of pushing the sport and telling the world that we are here right now and that the Philippines is here to stay," Aldeguer expressed.
The Araneta Center and the Thrilla in Manila was intended to showcase the Philippines to the world. No one knew that the arena will be part of boxing history. Tonight, it will try to restore its old glory via the fists of the country's twin world champions.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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