ALA Boxing hangs up gloves

CEBU, Philippines — As immortalized by William Shakespeare in his Romeo and Juliet play, parting is such a sweet sorrow.

After 35 glorious years of molding champions, both in the amateur and pro ranks, and helping poor boxers achieve their dreams and get a better life, ALA Boxing called it a day.

The stunning news of ALA Gym’s closure was first relayed to The Freeman by WBC No.1 minimumweight contender Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem who said that ALA founder Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer told him in a heart-to-heart talk before he went back home in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon that ALA Gym will stop operations in boxing.

“Wala nay ALA boxing sir. Nag-estorya mi ni sir ALA (Antonio L. Aldeguer, the founder of ALA) ug iya ko gitambagan nga mangita na lang og maayo nga promoter kay sayang if dili madayon ako world title fight,” Jerusalem told this writer four days before ALA Boxing came up with an official statement announcing its end, citing the reasons of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of its longtime TV partner ABS-CBN.

Established in 1985, ALA Boxing is responsible for putting up many memorable and historical fights during the last three decades as well as creating some of the biggest names in Philippine boxing, among them are two-time world title challenger Edito “ALA” Villamor, former four-division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, and erstwhile world titleholders Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo and Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, and Asian Games bronze medalist Crisologo “Brix” Flores.

It has also guided the fistic careers of former world champions Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tunacao and his equally-talented brother Noel “The Eel” Tunacao, Andy Tabanas, Joma Gamboa, and Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol, former  OPBF champions Randy “Kumong Bato” Suico and Rev “The Gentle Giant” Santillan, Philippine champions Dindo “Diesel” Castanares, Wyndel “Braveheart” Janiola, and Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon and world title challengers Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, Z “The Dream” Gorres, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, Jonas “Zorro” Sultan, Bert “Ninja” Batawang, brothers Albert and Jason Pagara, Michael Domingo, “King” Arthur Villanueva, and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, among others.

“After 35 years, ALA BOXING (ALA Promotions and ALA Gym) would like to say Farewell and Thank you to our supporters from all over the World,” said ALA Boxing in an official statement posted on Philboxing. “The Pandemic and the closure of our long time Broadcast Network partner ABS-CBN, has affected the over-all situation and future of the company.”

“All our fighters will be released so they can look for greener pastures for their respective careers. ALA boxing would not be where it is today without the tremendous support of the boxers, trainers, office staff, fans, the media, the boxing organizations, and our sponsors all these years,” it added.

ALA Boxing listed down its countless accomplishments from helping the less fortunate street kids to achieve their dreams and have better lives and forming one of the most talented amateur teams ever assembled in the mid 80’s,

It also takes pride for its grassroots developmental program in the Vis-Min region in the late 80’s and the  jampacked crowds in Cebu Coliseum featuring Edito “ALA” Villamor , Gerry Penalosa and the ALA Boys with their famous Black Trunks in the 90’s,

In addition to that, ALA assembed the biggest boxing show ever in Tagbilaran City in 2005 with over 30,000 fans featuring Bohol’s homegrown talent pride Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.

ALA’s partnership with Golden Boy Promotions in 2006 led to the staging of the Battle of Cebu featuring the WBO world title fight between Z “The Dream” Gorres vs Fernando Montiel with over 25,000 Spectators at the Cebu City Sports Center and the Boxing World Cup featuring “Philippines vs Mexico” held in Sacramento, California.

ALA attracted one of the biggest spectators ever gathered at the oven-hot super jampacked Cebu Coliseum in 2008 where the streets had to be closed because of the massive crowd for the “Laban na Banal“ WBA world title fight between AJ “Bazooka” Banal vs Rafael Concepcion.

In 2010, ALA launched the “Pinoy Pride”, the most successful and longest boxing series in Asia at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, and the historical Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

ALA also made a mark as the only promotional company from the Philippines to have ever staged boxing events in Dubai (twice) and the United States.

In partnership with Top Rank, it staged a fight of Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire at the Cebu Sports complex with over 20,000 spectators back in 2016.

Together with one of the biggest conglomerates in the country, Asia Brewery Inc. (Tanduay, Summit and Cobra), ALA held the highest number of amateur and professional boxing events in a month as well as in the entire year for the past 30 years.

“All these memorable events and accomplishments would not have been possible without all of you. The past and present ALA boxers, the trainers, the office staff, the media, the fans, the boxing organizations, sponsors and our boxing family from all over the world,” said ALA. “We would like to thank you all very much from the bottom of our hearts for all your support the past 35 memorable years. We cannot ask for more.”