CARSON, California – Nothing comes easy, and ALA Promotions president and CEO Michael Aldeguer said Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs the World is no exception.
It’s the first ALA fight card in the United States, and Asia’s biggest boxing promotions outfit took nearly four years to put it up.
“It wasn’t easy to do this but it’s something we’ve always envisioned,” said Aldeguer just days before the fight card at the StubHub Center here,.
Birth pains are being felt by the promoters, and yet Aldeguer said there’s a lot to look forward to.
“It’s something we always felt would happen. We’re making history for Philippine boxing,” said Aldeguer, looking back to the first Pinoy Pride card in Cebu City in 2010.
He said the US card is “something that’s always been in the radar.”
Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila) it becomes a reality.
“We want to bring our fighters here to give the others the chance to see Filipino boxers. It’s a showcase – something we hope would not be just for now but for the years to come,” Aldeguer said.
The Aldeguers of Cebu, including Antonio Aldeguer, the father, have left no stone unturned making sure Pinoy Pride steps into US soil.
This one, according to Aldeguer, will not be the first.
Already in the drawing board are the next stops for ALA Promotions: San Diego in April, Los Angeles in June, San Mateo in San Francisco in August and then back to Carson in October next year.
“We hope to make bigger fights next year,” said Aldeguer, adding that they couldn’t’ have done it without the support of giant network ABS-CBN.
“We are here to showcase the greatness of the Filipino boxer,” he added.
Birth pains and all.