Bigger things await Pinoy Pride stars

MANILA, Philippines - Unless anyone among the Latinos get in the way, ALA Promotions has lined up bigger things for Filipino world champions Merlito Sabillo and Donnie Nietes and the rest of the gang.

“Next year we’re going to California and the Middle East,” said ALA president Michael Aldeguer before last night’s star-studded Pinoy Pride 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pinoy Pride 23 is the biggest so far put up by ALA, a Cebu-based outfit. It involved millions of pesos and a lot of time and effort putting up a double world-title card.

“But right now is the right time,” said Aldeguer of the card that should prove to the world that the Philippines can hold and host such a promotion.

As of presstime, Sabillo was to defend his WBO minimumweight crown against Nicaragua’s Carlos Buitrago and Nietes his WBO light-flyweight crown against Mexico’s Sammy Gutierrez.

The rest of the Pinoy Pride stars led by Milan Melindo, Jason Pagara, AJ Banal and Jimrex Jaca headlined last night’s fight card.

“This is a card I thought would be difficult to make because Manila is a market that is very difficult to penetrate,” said Aldeguer.

“All the telenovelas are here and the PBA is here and when it comes to boxing people always talk about Manny Pacquiao,” he added.

Dennis Canete, vice president of ALA, said if Sabillo wins, he will headline another card at Solaire Resort and Casino on Feb. 8.

Then ALA is planning to bring its top boxers to California in March and in Dubai in May and boxing cards to be staged in cooperation with Top Rank.

Canete said they’re not looking at the month of April because it’s when Pacquiao is expected to hold his next fight.

He added that for 2014, ALA wants to be part of at least eight events, two for every quarter of the year, and it may include stops in Singapore and Macau.

“Pinoy Pride is going places,” said Canete.