ALA launches TV boxing show ‘Idol’

MANILA, Philippines - The fabled ALA Promotions of Cebu has found a new way to promote young and promising Filipino boxers and further develop the sport as a whole.

Dennis Canete, vice president of ALA, yesterday announced the birth of “Idol,” a boxing television series to be shown on Studio 23 starting Sept. 14.

“This is another avenue for our young boxers.  It is aimed to produce and establish the next boxing idols and a new generation of boxing stars,” he said.

Canete graced yesterday’s PSA Forum together with ALA publicity officer Karen Yu, who said the show will feature up and coming boxers from all over the country.

The show, a product of the highly-successful ALA boxing program “Pinoy Pride,” will be aired once every two months, according to Yu.

Canete said “Pinoy Pride,” which helped Boom Boom Bautista, AJ Banal, Milan Melindo and Donnie Nietes become household names, is going international.

And that’s why ALA Promotions, which is headed by Michael Aldeguer, thought of new way to promote the sport and future stars among local fans.

“We hope to help young boxers rise the ways Manny Pacquiao or Nonito Donaire did. There are many interesting fights that are not shown on TV. This program will provide the avenue,” said Canete.

For its initial showing, “Idol” will feature bouts of unbeaten Filipino super-flyweight Melvin Gumban (15-0) and featherweight Mark Bernaldez (11-0) against Indonesia’s John Badjawa and Marangin Marbon.

The fights were held last Aug. 24 in Escalante City in Negros Occidental where the 23-year-old Gumban, with seven knockouts to his credit, is treated as a hero.

“Gumban is like a Manny Pacquiao in Escalante. He’s a hero in his hometown,” said Canete.