ALA Promotions ventures into PPV

CEBU, Philippines - ALA Promotions, the country’s premier boxing outfit, takes on a higher level as the highly-anticipated "Pinoy Pride 9" featuring the WBO light flyweight championship between ALA star Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Mexican Ramon Garcia will be shown live in Cebu on pay-per-view basis.

Nietes quest to carve history by becoming one of the two-division world champions in the country against Garcia will be shown live on Skycable and at SM Cebu Cinema 1 straight from University of St.La Salle Stadium in Bacolod City on October 8 .

ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports top executives have finalized a deal with cable giant Skycable and SM City Group to air the Nietes- Garcia showdown that is considered to be the biggest boxing event happening in the country, so far.

“This is only the second time that a fight inside the country will be shown pay-per-view, the first one was the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight,” said ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel.

Aldeguer said this will be the first of many pay-per-view fights that will be held not only in Cebu but also in different key cities in the country.

“We are looking at this as a long-term venture. Initially its Cebu because we feel that this (Pinoy Pride series) belongs here but we are planning to do this in other cities in the country because of the demands that we may get,” added Aldeguer. “This is also as a preparation for the Pinoy Pride US tour so that Filipino boxing fans can watch the upcoming fights live.”

Also to be featured on this maiden PPV event is the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight championship between AJ “Bazooka” Banal against dangerous Mexican knockout artist Mario “Macas” Briones who is undefeated in 20 professional fights.

Meanwhile, undefeated ALA prospect Arthur “El Matador” Villanueva will take on his first foreign opponent in Kenyan Shaabani Madilu. (FREEMAN)