ALA finalizes StubHub card

MANILA, Philippines - After weeks of negotiations, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said the Pinoy Pride 33 boxing card in Carson City on Oct. 17 has been sealed, signed and delivered.

“It should be an exciting card,” said Aldeguer on the phone yesterday as he announced the lineup of the featured fights for the event at the StubHub Center.

It’s dubbed “Philippines vs the World.”

Donnie Nietes, the reigning WBO light-flyweight champion, will headline the card, the first for ALA Promotions in the United States.

The 33-year-old Nietes, a world champion for nearly eight years now, will stake his 108 lb title against Mexico’s Juan Alejo.

It’s the first US outing for Nietes, who’d fought three times in Mexico, winning them all, and thrice in Jakarta, winning twice and losing once.

“It’s Donnie’s first time in the United States and finally he could get the attention he deserves,” said Aldeguer of the soft-spoken world champion.

Alejo is 21-3, losing his first three fights as a pro, including two by knockout, before he started to pile up the victories and stayed undefeated in over six years.

Three of ALA’s top fighters, Albert and Jason Pagara, and Mark Magsayo will also see action at the StubHub Center.

Like Nietes, it’s their first US outing, and Aldeguer said it will serve as a gauge whether or not they’re ready for the big stage.

The 19-year-old Albert, undefeated in 23 fights, puts his WBO International junior-featherweight crown at stake against William Gonzalez of Nicaragua.

Gonzalez is a knockout artist. At 27-5, he has 23 knockouts under his belt, 15 of them inside three rounds, and seven in the first.

His older brother, Jason, who’s 23, takes on another fighter from Nicaragua, Santos “El Toro” Benavides (25-7-2 with 19 knockouts).

Aldeguer has high hopes on the Pagaras, who won their respective fights in Dubai last month, and if they’re successful in Carson City, then more windows will open.

The same goes for Magsayo, only 21 and also undefeated in 11 fights. He’s just as exciting, and it looks like he’s heading toward the right direction.

Magsayo, who can put on a show, battles Mexico’s Yardley Suarez for the IBF Youth featherweight crown.

“We feel that the opponents of Albert, Jason and Mark will give them the test that they need to go up the ladder,” said Aldeguer.

It took him weeks to finalize the card, the first US stint for ALA Promotions, which needed four years to secure their license in California.

Aldeguer has bigger plans on the drawing board in partnership with giant network ABS-CBN and its international arm, The Filipino Channel (TFC).