Thank you, ALA Boxing!

CEBU, Philippines — Like the many lives ALA Boxing has touched, black clouds of sadness also enveloped the members of sports media, both local and national, upon learning the heart-rending news that Cebu's fabled stable has closed shop after 35 glorious years.

Looking back at ALA's unforgettable journey in molding champions in boxing and in life, some of the country's top sportswriters fondly recalled tons of memories they had while chronicling the epic and historical events of ALA Boxing that was established by Antonio Lopez Aldeguer, a Negrense but Cebu-based businessman-sportsman, way back in 1985.

And they have nothing but words of respect and praise for the world-renowned sweatshop that was responsible for bringing Philippine boxing to unprecedented heights.

Veteran sports journalist Nick Andrew Giongco, who now pens stories and column for The Daily Tribune, recounted that he first heard about ALA Boxing in the late 80s but only got to meet Aldeguer in mid-1993 during an event in Danao City.

"I remember there was a skinny fellow who Juanito Ablaca introduced to me who he says will make it big. That guy was Malcolm (Tunacao). I also got to spend a night at Mr. Aldeguer’s palatial home and likewise got to meet Jun Gorres and other top ALA fighters during that time," said Giongco.

Giongco said his most memorable moment with ALA happened in March 1996 when he flew to the United States for the first time for Edito Villamor's WBC title challenge against Ricardo "Finito" Lopez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

"I was met at the lobby by Ablaca and met Mr. Aldeguer. I was Edito’s roommate. He slept on the carpeted floor while I took the comfy bed. During the fight (ring introduction), I was in the corner wearing the trademark black ALA sweater. I got the chance to go up the ring as I was tasked to bring the water bucket. I was nervous because it was a big night for boxing. Aside from Mr. Aldeguer, Ablaca and myself, also present were Joe Koizumi and Argentine cutman Miguel Diaz. Tyson was facing Bruno in the main event," shared Giongco. 

"I was excited. Honestly, I didn't see the punch that KO’d Edito as I took a glance at the crowd. Next time I knew it, he had collapsed to the floor. Later in our hotel room, Edito told me that he was dazed when he got dropped to the deck by the Lopez uppercut. After the fight, Ablaca, Edito and myself went walking around Vegas. The next day, I took a flight to San Francisco to stay with my aunt for a week before flying back to Manila. In December of that same year, Mr. Aldeguer stood as one of my ninongs (godfather) during my wedding. I have always cherish my association with Mr. Aldeguer and ALA boxing," added Giongco.

Roy Luarca, former sportscribe of Philippine Daily Inquirer who is now a freelance writer with Rappler, ABS-CBN News and Philstar.com, marveled at how ALA Promotions staged its world-class events to perfection, always drawing a sea of crowd in its blockbuster shows here and abroad.

"Nonito Donaire's successful defense of the WBO junior featherweight crown in 2016 and Pinoy Pride 32, featuring brothers Albert and Jason Pagara, were the most memorable among the many ALA Boxing events I covered for the Philippine Daily Inquirer," said Luarca. "While Donaire's third round knockout of Hungarian Zsolt Bedak was impressive, it was the thousands of loud fans who trooped to the Cebu City Sports Complex who left a lasting impression."

"Albert took just two minutes to stop Jesus Rios while Jason won by unanimous decision over Ramiro Alcarez in a bout cut to eight rounds before a big crowd of OFWs, including my cousins, at the Dubai World Trade Center. I always look forward to Pinoy Pride events because ALA Boxing treats visiting sportswriters well. Its support staff attend to our needs and after the coverage, which usually lasts till midnight, we have bonding time with colleagues from Cebu and Davao."

Though ALA walked down a long and meandering road with the usual slings and arrows coming its way before scaling the zenith of glory, noted sports broadcaster and The Philippine STAR columnist Bill Velasco is fascinated not only by how ALA raised the bar of boxing promotion in the country to unequaled level but also in the manner it transformed raw talents into ring stars up to the world stage.

"I was fortunate to witness firsthand how ALA Promotions elevated pro boxing from hot, steamy barangay halls to carpeted, air-conditioned casino ballrooms. They successfully staged fights in Metro Manila (the first in MOA Arena), Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Bohol and other venues. They conquered California and Dubai. They were a good middle ground between Las Vegas and local productions. But it was a long, hard road to respectability," said Velasco, co-author of the 2020 Philippines Yearbook’s “The 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time”.

"ALA found or polished raw talent, and made them stars of the ring. Not all stayed, but all benefited. Internationally known boxers and world champions like Donnie Nietes and Milan Melindo, and Boom Boom Bautista, AJ Banal, Mark Magsayo, the Pagara brothers, Genesis Servania, Arthur Villanueva and Z Gorres, among others, fought for ALA. But in the last two years, the business shrank. In 2019, the “Pinoy Pride” series dwindled. Donnie Nietes has not fought since late 2018, and is now considering retirement, a huge waste of an all-time great. But let us remember the good work of ALA Promotions with lasting gratitude."

For Inquirer sports editor Francis Ochoa, ALA has left a lasting impression eve if he was involved in an ALA event for only once.

  "I had only one experience with them, the Dubai card in 2014. I know it's impressive how they handle media people they bring to their fights but the one thing that impressed me most was their kinship with the boxers. The way they handle their boxers is at par with international promoters where they have people making sure needs are met," remarked Ochoa.

"My experience with promoters before that was Top Rank during Manny Pacquiao's fights abroad and watching ALA officials really being at the service of their boxers was nothing short of heartwarming, regardless if the boxer was going to fight at the start of the card or in the main event. You feel like it is boxers before business with ALA," Ochoa added.

Indeed, ALA's warmth and candor is palpable. It radiates to the very depths of senses of those people he deals with. Dennis Principe of the Manila Bulletin can attest to that.

"Every visit to their gym was like a trip back home. If you’re a boxing fan, you would feel welcome in every corner of that place because of the very nature of their boxers, trainers and the Aldeguers, specifically Michael and Tony," said Principe. "Every minor card that I covered was always the most memorable because it served as a reminder of how a promoter and manager should be, specifically those who are just starting. Humble, sincere and very concerned with their boxers. Tony and Michael loved being with upstarts and grooming them into being future world class boxers. They’ve been consistently like that for nearly four decades." 

"ALA Promotions will be a tough act to follow. Those who dreamt of watching a Las Vegas card but were not able to do so should have the sense of fulfillment if they got to watch an ALA-promoted card. That is because ALA brought the same atmosphere and quality of a Las Vegas-type of cards, be it in Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Bacolod or Manila. Truly world class."

Manila Standard digital consultant Randy Caluag echoed Principe's sentiments.

"It has been said the ALA Boxing was the biggest promotion in the Philippines during its existence.Having a long-time partnership with what used to be the biggest TV network in the country and holding world championships several times, it was so easy to agree, that indeed, ALA Boxing was tops," Caluag commented. "Then in my relatively short stint as boxing official, I got the privilege of working close with the people at ALA. It was an experience like no other, in terms of professionalism.  I worked as one of the judges in the WBC Continental Americas Super Feather title fight won via unanimous decision by undefeated Australian Paul Fleming over Miguel Angel Gonzales of Mexico. It was one of the undercards for Nonito Donaire’s successful defense of his WBO Super Bantam title against Hungarian Zsolt Bedak at the open air Cebu City Sports Center."

"Every thing was neatly organized--from our arrival, to weigh-in, during the fight and all the way to going back home. ALA Boxing’s a hard act to follow," Caluag added. 

Cebu sportswriters have lots of fond memories with ALA too.

"I covered the ALA Boxing Club during the time when its stars were Edito 'Ala' Villamor, Gerry Penalosa, Dan Nietes, Ramie Dumpa, Andy Tabanas, and a few others," said Nimrod NL Quinones, former sports editor of The Freeman. "As a new sportswriter, it was somewhat a surreal experience when I would cover the boxing promotions at the Cebu Coliseum that was always packed with people.  Edito was the most popular having his own Barangay Villamor, which was what I used to call his group of fans, but brawlers like Dumpa drew the biggest cheers as his fighting style was the kind you would see on barroom brawls."

"I have many wonderful memories covering the ALA Boxers and in fact when I would go to their gym before, I would see some of my articles that hang on frames on the walls," Quinones added. "It is very sad to know that the ALA Boxing Club has sounded the final bell.  I have my fond memories of those early years that I will cherish for a lifetime."

The Freeman sports columnist Rico S. Navarro chimed in, "ALA Boxing will stand out in the history of Philippine sports for showing us how a comprehensive sports program must be run. From maintaining a gym to staging events, they were the benchmark. They were a trailblazer in boxing, ran a grassroots-to-pros program, and most importantly developed poor and deserving athletes to become better persons."

Current The Freeman sports staff Caecent No-ot Magsumbol portrayed Aldeguer as more than just a boxing man and news source. He became a confidant, a second father to her.

"Covering amateur boxing events organized by sir ALA makes me personally know him better. And being the only girl covering his events that time wasn’t so much of a struggle because sir ALA was more often than not, have always been by my side," recalled Magsumbol. "Sir ALA eventually became like a father to me too, that even in heartaches, he was there for me.Up to this day, is it still hard to take that ALA Boxing is permanently folding up."

Jack Biantan, former assistant sports editor of Sun.Star, wrote in his heart-warming piece on Philippine News Agency that the international boxing world has lost one of its major players in the industry. 

"However, boxing fans will always remember ALA Boxing Club's 35 years of legacy," Biantan stated. "Who would forget how ALA Villamor demolished Nico Thomas in November 29, 1990 in a dimly lighted Cebu Coliseum just two weeks after super storm Ruping devastated Cebu City? Who would forget the story of Donnie Nietes who, because of his hard work, rose up from a janitor of the ALA Boxing Club to become a world flyweight champion?".

"It is a bitter pill for its founder Antonio L. Aldeguer. The ALA Boxing Club was his baby that grew up into his dashing son only to die at age 35. My heart and the rest of the boxing world bleeds for the ALA Boxing Club. Let us just hope that after this Covid crises something good for Philippine boxing will happen."

Emilio "Junmigs" Migallen Jr. of Superbalita pitched in that the existence of ALA has changed the landscape not only of Cebu but also the entire Philippine boxing.

"A well-organized and professionally run organization that can compete with international promotions," Migallen remarked. "In my more than 30 years as sports journalist, aside from MP Promotions of Manny Pacquiao, I've never seen any other local boxing promoters that were able to stage boxing abroad - twice in Dubai, and another two in Carson, California." 

"And not to mention the local presentation of Pinoy Pride series featuring foreign fighters against our local boxers held in some other regions of the country," Migallen added. "So, it is sad to say that the sudden closure of the ALA is a big loss  to Philippine boxing. Hopefully somebody would fill in the shoes left by this organization or we just hope and pray for their revival or rebirth."

Sun.Star Superbalita sports ed Erwin S. Lirazan recalled with a grateful heart Aldeguer's kindness and generosity.

"As a sports journalist, it cannot be denied that we will be saddened by the closure of ALA Boxing, which is without question the no.1 boxing stable in trhe country. Since 1995, I've been covering all their boxing promotions," said Lirazan. "But one thing I will never forget in my life is when sir ALA let me travel to Singapore to cover the fight of one of his boxers. Even if it was not their promotion, he shouldered my airfare because sir ALA knows how I miss my wife who is working in Singapore."

"Also, when I gained weight, sir ALA always reminds me to take good care of my health every time we see each other," added Lirazan, "It's really a big loss to Philippine boxing with ALA stopping its operations. I'm hoping that there's someone who will pick up the cudgels left by ALA someday."

Gerry Ramos, associated editor of Spin.ph, ALA Boxing in an epitome of professionalism par excellence.

"Talk about professionalism in handling boxing promotions and coverages, and ALA Boxing is certainly the epitome of it. It took Philippine boxing into new heights," said Ramos. "It was a fabled stable that produced world champion not only the likes of Donnie Nietes and Milan Melindo, but also the likes of Gerry Penalosa, Malcolm Tunacao, Rodel Mayol, Randy Suico, among others, from way back."

"Who could forget ALA Boxing making Edito ‘Ala’Villamor, Z Gorres, Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista, AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal, and the Pagara brothers, Jason and Albert, household names in boxing."

Ramos said among his memorable trips with ALA were the highly-popular Pinoy Pride that took fistic action in different parts of the country from Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, to Manila, and later on overseas such as Dubai and California.

"I remember my first Pinoy Pride coverage when Banal fought and lost by KO against Rafael Concepcion for the interim WBA super-flyweight crown in 2008 before an overflow crowd at the Cebu Coliseum. Banal, who was leading in all judges’ scorecards, cried like a baby in the arms of ALA patron Tony Aldeguer following the heartbreaking loss," Ramos recollected. "There was also the 2011 WBO junior flyweight title fight between Nietes and Ramon Garcia Herales when a tired and spent Nietes willed himself in front of his provincemate at the La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod to overcome a strong finish by the Mexican and retain his title."

"It was sad to see a boxing institution like ALA Boxing go at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. ALA and Elorde boxing are two of the respected and enduring stables that kept Philippine boxing punching throughout these years," Ramos added. "As the song goes, goodbye doesn’t mean forever. Hopes remain ALA Boxing will be able to rise from the unexpected knockout and fight to live again."

Salven Lagumbay, former boxing writers and columnist of Cebu Daily News who went on to become an international boxing judge and a pioneering ONE Championship official and team manager, said what matters most about Aldeguer is that he cares, always looking after the welfare of the people around him.

"ALA Boxing and ALA Promotions, in the 35 years that it operated, have been home to thousands of lives changed for the better. Be it the boxers, trainers, workers, office staff and even boxing officials," said Lagumbay. "You will never find a more caring and genuine person than its founder, Antonio L. Aldeguer. He was there for everyone. He is, in my books, the greatest boxing man Cebu has ever produced. He touched lives, and his ALA Gym was a refuge."

"I will always have countless fond memories of ALA Promotions, starting as a boxing journalist to becoming an international judge. ALA was always part of my narrative. Always is, always will be. All my love and respect," Lagumbay added.

This writer, who first met Aldeguer as a budding sports journalist while interviewing Edito Villamor about the new chapter of his career as a trainer in 1997, has also stored in his memory bank many good things about ALA he will treasure for a lifetime. 

"The most wonderful thing about sir ALA is that he treats media not as a personality but as a person, a friend, and a part of the ALA family. It's a relationship that blossomed beyond the corners of the ring, a beautiful partnership that transcends boxing. For that, we will be forever grateful. There are no goodbyes, just thank you sir ALA for everything."