With Salud’s connections and Aldeguer’s keen eye in spotting diamonds in the rough, there’s no question their partnership will go a long way.
For one, they speak the same language. They’re not into boxing for the funds of it. Salud and Aldeguer are well-to-do. Their goal transcends the personal. When they give, they give from the heart. Selflessness is their common trait. All they want is to bring honor and glory to the country. To them, it’s about national pride.
On Saturday, Salud is flying to Cebu to hook up with recently retired ex-World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa, now his chief scout, and Aldeguer. Salud and Peñalosa will check out Aldeguer’s ALA (for Antonio Lopez Aldeguer) Boys in a Sinulog card this Sunday at the Gaisano Country Mall parking lot in the heart of Cebu City.
Peñalosa will plane in from San Carlos City, his hometown.
Salud is on the lookout for potential world champions. Because of Aldeguer’s track record, Salud said his starting point had to be the ALA stable which has produced the likes of Peñalosa himself, Malcolm Tuñacao, Joma Gamboa, Randy Suico, and Rodel Mayol.
When Peñalosa announced his retirement a week ago, Salud said the fighter would be his point man in hunting for talent all over the archipelago.
Aldeguer said he’s excited to team up with Salud. This weekend, they’ll be sitting side by side as four undefeated ALA Boys–Philippine superlightweight titlist Dindo Castanares, Philippine No. 1 superfeatherweight Bart Abapo, Philippine No. 3 flyweight Z Gorres, and Philippine No. 5 flyweight Sherwin Paro–display their wares in a big card that’s free to the public except for a special section close to the ring.
None of Aldeguer’s fighters are contractually tied up to his stable.
"They’re free to come and go," said Aldeguer. "But if they want to fight in my stable, they’ve got to follow the rules–including staying in school. I want my fighters to have a fallback, an education, in case they don’t go far in the ring. I can remember when Malcolm Tunacao won the WBC flyweight title a few years ago, several Cebu amateurs were inspired by his achievement and turned pro even if they weren’t ready. About 90 percent of Cebu’s amateurs became overnight pros. But what happened? Within six months, so many of them retired because there weren’t enough managers and promotions for them to earn a good living out of boxing. I want my fighters not only to rely on boxing."
One of Aldeguer’s stars, Edito Villamor, rose to become the world’s top minimumweight contender but lost to Ratanapol Sor Vorapin and Ricardo Lopez in two bids for the 105-pound title. Villamor has since retired and now works as Aldeguer’s head trainer. Aldeguer made sure there was life after boxing for Villamor.
Aldeguer said aside from his four unbeaten pros, he’s taking care of several simonpures, one of whom he described as a future star. The budding amateur is a 16-year-old bantamweight from Bohol. Aldeguer said he hits like a mule.
"The boy’s father, a fisherman, wants him to turn pro," said Aldeguer referring to the teenaged amateur. "His family is extremely poor. I’m not sure if they can eat more than one good meal a day. But I want the boy to gain a little more experience. I’m lining him up for the Arafura Games in Australia. Maybe, by the middle of the year, he’ll be ready to turn pro. Another promising amateur is a 17-year-old junior lightweight, also from Bohol. I want him to graduate from high school before turning pro."
Tomorrow, Aldeguer is promoting an "amateur" night of boxing in Cebu. He’s bringing in six crack fighters from outside Cebu, primarily Bago City, to square off against the best from Cebu. The top two or four fighters among the 12 will fight again on Sunday’s card so Salud and Peñalosa can assess their potentials up close.
"I think two or three of the best amateurs in the Visayas are ripe for the pros," said Aldeguer. "I want Rudy to see them in action. I want him to talk to them because we’re not only looking for ability. We’re also looking for fighters with the right attitude."
In the Cebu press, reaction to the impending Salud-Aldeguer tie-up has been positive. Aldeguer plans to introduce Salud to Cebu newsmen this weekend so they can hear from the lawyer himself his future plans for boxing.
"I invited Rudy Salud to watch the fights and after that, we can discuss terms," said Aldeguer, quoted in Sun Star Cebu (Jan. 9). "If I were to choose, we could be co-managers. I have complete training facilities and he (Salud) has the right connections. It would be a good team–I think we complement each other."
Aldeguer said he will not accept money if Salud offers to buy out his fighters. "My boys are free to join any other stable–they’re not for sale," he continued. "All I want is to help these kids. If it’s for their career advancement, then I’m glad for them."
One of Aldeguer’s prized discoveries, Mayol, left the ALA stable after American Terry Carter offered a P200,000 signing bonus to move to his Stonewall camp in Lilo-an, Cebu, two years ago. Aldeguer said he gave Mayol his blessings. "I will not get in the way of my fighters who want to move on," said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer’s four unbeaten pros are loaded with talent. Castanares, 21, boasts an 11-0-1 record, with eight KOs. He holds knockout wins over Fernando Montilla, Ulysses Puzon, Renato Andales, Ranel Mercardo, and Nonoy Gonzales. Abapo, 24, has a 10-0-1 record, with six KOs. Gorres, 20, packs an 11-0 mark, with four KOs. Paro, 19, is 7-0, with three KOs.
"This will give Rudy the opportunity to assess the talents of the boys and at the same time, meet and get acquainted with them," said Aldeguer. "Rudy can also visit my gym and see for himself the facilities and equipment I have. Lastly, Rudy and Gerry can meet the press who are very excited to meet them."
Salud’s hunt for future Filipino world champions begins this weekend in Cebu.