Blockbuster Pinoy Pride sequel: Nietes, Sabillo topbill double world title fight at Big Dome

CEBU, Philippines - The world-renowned ALA Promotions is bound to carve another milestone in Philippine boxing history as it assembles five world-class fighters in one card headlining the 23rd edition of the highly-successful Pinoy Pride series dubbed as ‘Filipinos vs. Latinos’ on November 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The surefire blockbuster card will be spiced up with a double world championship bout featuring WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes and WBO minimumweight titlist Merlito ‘Tiger’ Sabillo.

“We are supposed to do this in Dubai, but fans are asking us that why stage it there if we can put it here,” said ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the Aegean room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. “This is probably the biggest event in the Philippine boxing history in the last two to three years.”

“We have five main event boxers all fighting in one card that will surely put stamp on the Philippines as one of the boxing powerhouses in the world,” he added.

Aside from Nietes and Sabillo, three other marquee fighters from the fabled ALA gym in junior welterweight prospect Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara, former two-time world title challenger AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal and Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo will also see action in the slambang show co-presented by ABS-CBN Sports.

“So far, only Sabillo has an opponent in undefeated Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago. We are working right now on the details of the other Latino boxers who will face the rest of the guys,” said Aldeguer.

For Melindo, it will be his first ring appearance since his heart-breaking unanimous decision loss to Mexican champion Juan Francisco Estrada in their WBO/WBA flyweight title match last July 27 in Macau.

The country last hosted a double world title fight on April 19, 2009 also at the Big Dome headlined by Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria. On that eventful night, Donaire kept his IBF flyweight belt with a fourth round TKO of Mexican Raul Martinez, while Viloria dethroned former Mexican Ulises Solis to snare the light flyweight crown. (FREEMAN)