ALA Promotions eyeing world title fights for Banal, Melindo

CEBU, Philippines - On the heels of the overwhelming success of Pinoy Pride 14:Night of Champions, ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer said they are setting their sights next on staging two world title fights for their prized wards AJ "Bazooka" Banal and Milan "El Metodico" Melindo within the year."That's what we are really looking for. A world title fight for both Banal and Melindo within the year," said Aldeguer in an interview over the phone.

Aldeguer said they got a word from the World Boxing Organization that reigning WBO bantamweight champion Jorge "Traveiseo" Arce of Mexico is definitely moving up in weight, giving Banal the opportunity to vie for the vacant title being the No.1 contender mostly likely against the second-ranked Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand.

"Actually, we have already started negotiating with the handlers of Pungluang. The problem is that the Thai promoter also wanted to stage the fight in Thailand," said Aldeguer. "But we will do our best to bring the fight here because that is something that the Filipino fans want to see."

Should they be able to strike a deal with their Thai counterparts, Aldeguer said the championship bout will take place in Manila headlining the 15th installment of the highly-successful Pinoy Pride series either in late September or early October with no confirmed venue.

"That's our immediate plan for now," Aldeguer said.

As for Melindo, Aldeguer said they will write a letter to the WBO requesting for a mandatory showdown against WBO flyweight titlist Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria.

Aldeguer said WBO Vice President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo told them that Melindo earned the status as Viloria's mandatory challenger after he made short work of Jesus Geles of Colombia, who is rated No.9 by the WBO, in his most recent bout.

"We really don't want to see a Filipino fighting against a Filipino but if that's the way it goes, then we have no other choice than to let it happen and face the challenge," said Aldeguer.

The WBO top 112-pound contender Melindo showed he is ripe and ready enough for a world title match after scoring a splendid first-round knockout of Geles, a former world champion, during the "Pinoy Pride 14" last Saturday night at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.

The pride of Cagayan de Oro City pounded Geles with a spate of energy-sapping body shots that sent the hapless Colombian down on both knees for good at the 2:12 mark of the opening round.

In the main event of the action-packed card, two-division world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes punched his way to a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over a very tough Mexican challenger Felipe Salguero to retain his WBO light flyweight title.

It was Nietes' first successful defense of the WBO belt he seized also by unanimous verdict over Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales on October 8 last year at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum in Bacolod City.

Aldeguer said they are now looking for a possible unification bout with WBA champion Roman Gonzalez or IBF crown-holder Ulises Solis.

"But that's not gonna happen anytime soon. We know for the fact that it takes a lot of time to set up a unification bout," said Aldeguer. - THE FREEMAN