ALA, Viva sign deal

CEBU, Philippines – After boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and even Olympian Onyok Velasco, three ALA boys are expected to go into showbiz with ALA Boxing Promotions and Viva Entertainment forging partnership.

ALA Promotions' president Michael Aldeguer and Viva Entertainment CEO Vic del Rosario signed a contract of agreement at the Cebu Grand Hotel yesterday.

The three ALA wards, who will benefit from the deal, are WBO minimumweight champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes and world title prospects Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ "Bazooka" Banal.

Del Rosario promised to help the ALA boxers by making them popular through product endorsements and even in the movies.

"I discussed to ALA Promotions on how we will manage the boxers and making them a star inside and outside the ring. I believe these guys will be the next Manny Pacquiao, that's why it's important now that we build their image," Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario who is also the man behind the making of the country's biggest stars like Sharon Cuneta and Sarah Geronimo, decided to choose ALA boxers instead of Manila athletes following the large fan-base of these boxers in the Visayas and Mindanao area.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, for his part, explained that the significance of this partnership is that the boxers would be packaged and exposed further to their fellow Filipinos and this could help them in future fights.

Aldeguer said that Nietes, who is one of the few remaining Filipino world champions, did not get so much recognition when he came home.

Nietes, a native of Bacolod City who is coming from an impressive unanimous decision win against Mexico's Mario Rodriguez last August 14, is now preparing for his fifth title defense in February next year.

"Nietes will fight in February next year and not this December, and it's definitely going to be held here in the Philippines," Aldeguer said.            

The 28-year-old boxer is gunning for the history to be the lone boxer who able to defend his title for the longest time, surpassing the record of Pinoy boxing legend Gabriel "Flash" Elorde who held his title for a span of seven years. (FREEMAN)