AKTV to air boxing, lifestyle programs

CEBU CITY ,Philippines  – Only in its second boxing promotion, AKTV, a local sports and lifestyle programmer, is already looking at bigger projects for next year.

“The plan is to be more heavily involved with boxing promotions,” said Vito Lazatin, sports manager of AKTV, which is owned and operated by TV5.

It all started with the Froilan Saludar vs Gabriel Pumar fight last August followed by the highly awaited return to the ring of Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona.

Sonsona was taking on Mexican Carlos Jacobo in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Hoops Dome as of presstime last night.

Lazatin said definitely there’s more to come from AKTV.

“This is only our second fight and we’ve been working well with Sammy Gelo-Ani,” said Lazatin of the Cebu-based SGG Promotions.

“And the dream is to do monthly boxing promotions. We want to feature our young and upcoming fighters. Then we plan to stage world title fights on a quarterly basis,” said the network official.

However, he clarified that AKTV is open to working with other promoters, and stage fights not only in Cebu but in Manila, Bacolod or anywhere else in the country.

“Boxing is close to our hearts and considering how good we are professionally, we want to be more involved with it. We’re now in the planning stage and we’re mapping out our calendar for next year,” he added.

Lazatin said TV5 has worked with Brian Viloria and Ana Julaton in the past, and added that he sees no reason why they can’t do it again with these Pinoy boxing champions.

He said they’re also looking at Nonito Donaire, the reigning world super-bantamweight champion.

“We know he’s with Top Rank but we’d love to have him on board as well,” said Lazatin.

Sonsona was only 19 when he became the WBO super-flyweight champion. But his reign did not last as he lost his focus in the ring, losing his crown on the scales just months after winning it.

Sonsona (14-1-1 with 12 knockouts) is coming off a 19-month layoff to face Jacobo (16-3-1 with 14 KOs) and prove that he’s back.

“I want to prove to everyone that I’m back and that I’m ready,” he said on the eve of the fight.