CEBU CITY – From Cebu, Manila, and now California.
After years of waiting, ALA Boxing Promotions is finally taking its act to the US as it targets to break through the rich American market with a fight card set for an October playdate.
Michael Aldeguer, the tireless president of the famed Cebu-based boxing promotions, said everything has been laid down for the outfit’s US invasion which has been on the pipeline for years now.
“We’ve already gotten a license from California. We’ve waited for four years to get one,” said the son of boxing impresario Tony Aldeguer.
“It took a while (to get a license), since we’re not based there (California) and we do not have records there. Everything was just based on the events that we’re doing.”
The California foray comes as a big break for a company considered as the most successful boxing promotion in the country. Its boxing series ‘Pinoy Pride’ has enjoyed immense popularity wherever it goes, be it in Cebu, Manila, or Davao.
ALA is actually staging yet another international fight card in Dubai on August 7 featuring the promising Pagara brothers, Albert and Jason.
The event, which comes on the heels of the company’s successful initial promotion in United Arab Emirates last year, will be formally launched on Monday.
“But it’s not going to be part of the Pinoy Pride (series). It could be ‘Duel in Dubai 2’ so as to attract not only the Filipinos in the Middle East, but other boxing fans out there,” said Aldeguer.
In the same manner, the US promotion will also be an independent fight card.
“We’re planning to make it ‘Pilipinas contra Latinos’ as we plan to attract Americans too, “ he added.
Aldeguer stressed there’s no turning back as far as ALA’s US outing is concerned, saying, “We’ve already made a deposit so it has to happen.”