Pinoy pride 25 sidelights: Getting there, Barrera and Milan ‘Mayweather’

MANILA, Philippines — To ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, boxing can and will be another sport that will slowly but surely bring in the Manila boxing fans. This was the common sentiment shared by ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer and Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN’s Consultant for Sports, on how boxing can become big in Manila. It is often asked why Manila boxing events are not as madly followed as those that are held in the south like Cebu, Bacolod and Davao where Pinoy Pride events draw full-house crowds. But Aldeguer was unfazed, saying that making boxing big in Manila is a five year program similar to the pattern made by his father Antonio Aldeguer for Cebu. “It won’t take overnight to build, but we’ll get there,” Aldeguer said. “I believe in baby steps, and we need events of this magnitude to get there,” Aldeguer added, referring to Pinoy Pride 25 where WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes defends his title against Moises Fuentes of Mexico in a grudge match after their draw of last year.

For his part, Musngi said that it “is very challenging to bring in the crowd” for boxing. But a good example/case study that boxing can follow was how ABS-CBN sports helped promote volleyball. He cited how volleyball games before weren’t attracting large crowds, but with regular TV coverage, today’s games of the UAAP draw sell-out crowds in either the Mall of Asia Arena or Araneta Coliseum. He also added that while the gate receipts for boxing may not be as high as those from events in the south, TV ratings have been impressive. He also added that to get into the mainstream airtime of the mother channel ABS-CBN Channel 2 is already a very difficult feat to achieve. “We’re already on TV over Channel 2, and we’re getting there,” Musngi cited. 

This writer couldn’t help but notice that both individuals had exactly the same “getting there” reply when asked about the progress made with bringing boxing to Manila. For Aldeguer, he said that “getting there” was all about hitting the ultimate objective where one can say, “Boxing has arrived.” Musngi, on the other hand referred to this times as the “golden age of Philippine boxing.” Aldeguer said this is why there is a need to bring boxing to Manila. After all, Manila is the capital of the nation and events of this magnitude should be brought there.

Barrera in the house. Stealing part of the limelight is the presence of Marco Antonio Barrera, his father Jorge Sr. and brother Jorge Jr. that make up the management team of Fuentes and have guided the boxer throughout his career. Barrera also added that he would like to see Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather.

Milan “Mayweather.” Milan Melindo brought the house down when he confidently said that he is just as good as Mayweather. Just as the press conference was going through the motion of questions thrown and answers made, Melindo came out of nowhere to make the declaration after a question from ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo, drawing laughter and cheers form everyone. (FREEMAN)