ALA's once best-kept secret

Now it can be told.

A week ago, trainer Freddie Roach’s best friend Billy Keane phoned from Los Angeles asking if he could sign up WBO Oriental bantamweight champion Michael Domingo.

It was flattering that Keane, who manages Gerry Peñalosa, showed a keen interest in Domingo but the offer was politely declined because at the moment, the Libac, Sultan Kudarat, slugger is under contract with the ALA stable of Cebu.

ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer said the other day it’s no secret that Roach thinks highly of Domingo who used to be the ALA gym’s best-kept secret. Roach said so himself after Domingo clinically thrashed Mexico’s previously unbeaten Miguel Roman in Sacramento last year.

Roach chose Domingo as Aldeguer’s top world championship prospect over the likes of A. J. Banal, Boom Boom Bautista and Z Gorres.

Keane coursed his offer through Aldeguer’s son Michael who now runs the ALA stable.

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Last Sunday, Domingo proved himself worthy of Roach’s glowing remarks as he stopped veteran Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in the ninth round of his first defense of the WBO Oriental crown in Cebu City. The win raised Domingo’s record to 38-15-2, with 18 KOs. He has won his last six outings.

“It was a brawl,” said Aldeguer. “Vorapin used a lot of dirty tricks, like butting and elbowing. In the ninth round, Michael got him with a right uppercut and he went down. His nose was broken and blood came out like a faucet. To show you how tough he is, Vorapin still got up. The referee (Teddy Alivio) stopped it on the doctor’s advice. Vorapin was foxy, clever and durable but Michael was just too strong.”

Aldeguer said he plans to send Domingo and lightwelterweight Mark Jason Melligen to Las Vegas where they will be based for at least six months.

“I picked Las Vegas because I have family and friends who can look out for them,” said Aldeguer. “The plan is to rent an apartment where they can stay. My son (Chris) lives there and so does (trainer) Tony Martin. I would love to send the boys to LA so they can train with Freddie but I don’t want to impose. The boys feel at home with Freddie and it would be an honor for them to train with him. But we know Freddie’s very busy now with Manny (Pacquiao) and Gerry. We’re embarrassed to approach him at this time.”

Aldeguer said Domingo is ripe for a world title crack but still needs exposure in the US market.

“Michael is 29 and a seasoned fighter,” continued Aldeguer. “Because of his age and the 15 losses in his record, he has to convince the American market he’s a strong contender for the world title.”

Aldeguer said he’s hoping to line up Domingo for a fight in Las Vegas late this year. “We want Michael to get two fights in the next six months then take it from there,” he continued.

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Aldeguer said WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo has played an instrumental role in giving Domingo his break.

“After Michael won the Philippine title, he knocked out Rivo Rengkung of Indonesia for the vacant WBO Oriental crown,” said Aldeguer. “Leon thought Ratanachai was too dangerous an opponent for Michael but we told him if he’s not tested now, when else? So the fight was arranged with Sammy Gelo-anni as promoter. It was held last Sunday morning and beamed live to Thailand.”

Aldeguer said of his fighters, Domingo stands out for his leadership.

“The other fighters respect and obey him,” said Aldeguer. “They call him kuya. He’s a model fighter. In his hometown in Sultan Kudarat, he’s a hero. After he beat Ratanachai, he was proud to get over 30 congratulatory texts, including one from his town mayor.”

Of Domingo’s 15 losses, 11 came on foreign soil and nine were by decision. He has also scored convincing wins abroad, even beating three Indonesian opponents in two months in Jakarta. One of his victims was Oriental champion Rolly Lunas Matsushita.

A grizzled veteran, Domingo turned pro in 1999 and was unbeaten in his first 11 outings. His stock got a major boost after he upset Roman, a Golden Boy protégé, last year. Roman was undefeated in 22 fights before the loss to Domingo who hasn’t been beaten since the win.