SERVANIA, VILLANUEVA, BAUTISTA FACE OFF WITH LATINO OPPONENTS IN PINOY PRIDE’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL ROADSHOW

By Dong Secuya –

DUBAI, UAE – ALA mainstays Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania, ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva and comebacking Rey ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista came face to face with their Latino opponents Thursday afternoon during the press conference and official weighin of ‘Pinoy Pride XXVII’ held at Rocky’s Cafe at the Regent Hotel Palace here, the first international roadshow of the highly successful Pinoy Pride Series, a partnership of ALA Promotions and the Philippines’ largest TV network, ABS-CBN. The fights will be held tomorrow evening, Friday, at the Dubai World Trade Center.

Servania (L) and Cabrera pose during the weighin.

Servania (24-0-0, 10KO) from Bacolod City, who will defend his WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title against Jose ‘Matador’ Cabrera (22-4-2, 10KO) of Mexico, promised to have an impressive win Friday night as he look forward to fight for a world title possibly next year. “We trained hard for this fight for three months and we are very positive for this fight,” Servania said. However, his opponent, Cabrera, had another plan and looked forward to have his hands raised after the battle. “I have all the experience I need to be able to beat Servania,” declared the articulate Cabrera who fought the likes of Omar Narvaez and Tomas Rojas. 

Servania weighed in at 121.4 lbs while Cabrera tipped the scales at 122 lbs, the superbantam weight limit. 

Appearing as a co-feature is Villanueva (25-0-0, 14KO), also from Bacolod City, who will face Henry ‘El Crespo’ Maldonado (19-3-0, 14KO) of Nicaragua for the IBF International junior bantamweight title. Villanueva who is highly rated by all four major boxing organizations, is quietly confident in facing Maldonado who had a difficult time getting the weight limit. Villanueva weighed in at 114.6 lbs while Maldonado came in at 115.8 lbs on his first try but made the weight limit of 115 lbs after perspiring himself with the over 100 degrees farenheit Dubai heat outside of the hotel. 

Villanueva and Maldonado.

The ever-popular ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista (35-3-0, 25KO), meanwhile continues his comeback bid against dangerous Mexican banger Juan Jose ‘Piquet’ Martinez (19-1-0, 15KO) for a 10-round super featherweight non title bout. 

Martinez, who endured an 18-hour flight to reach Dubai, said he had great sparring coming in and expect to come out the winner on Friday. “I will go up in the ring with nothing else in mind but to come out the victor… and the winner of this fight is the public because they will see some awesome boxing,” Cabrera said. 

Bautista, for his part, said that he had reviewed Martinez’s fights and that Martinez fights like a bull. “I respect Mexican fighters,” Bautista said. “But come Friday night, the respect will no longer be there,” he added. 

Bautista came in at 129.4 lbs. While Martinez stepped the scales at 131.6 lbs.

Bautista and Martinez

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer as well as ABS-CBN executives Peter Musngi, March Ventosa, Dino Laurena and Maribel Hernaez were proud but at the same time anxious to stage their first international show in Dubai. “This is something big for all of us,” Aldeguer said. This takes years of planning and finally it’s here. We’re looking for bigger shows next year,” Aldeguer said who mentioned putting up shows, aside from Dubai, also in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and of course in California where ALA Promotions had already been licensed. 

“The experience is like delivering a child,” Musngi, ABS-CBN’s Vice-President, Intergrated Sports Division, said, when asked how he feels about he feels about their first big international project. “You get excited but anxious.” 

On the eve of ‘Pinoy Pride XXVII’ however, all indications point to the successful staging of the event as tickets have almost sold out. 

Spicing out the night on the undercard are local based boxers headed by Larry Abarra, a Filipino who fights out of the Round 10 Boxing Club of Dubai, will face Chatpayak Nuengkawkawhok of Thailand in a four round superbantamweight bout. Abarra came in at 121.8 lbs while Nuengkawkawhok weighed in at 120.6 lbs. 

Kizito Deo of Uganda will be pitted against Anusher Abdullaev of Uzbekistan in a four round welterweight clash. Kizito weighed in at 142 lbs while Abdullaev stepped the scales at 147 lbs. 

Junior welterweights Mohammad Akram of Syria and Thailand’s Kong Windy Sports will fight in another four rounder. Akram is also based in Dubai’s Round 10 Boxing Club. Akram weighed in at 140.6 lbs Kong Windy came in at 140.6 lbs.

L-R: TFC Regional Marketing Head for Middle East and Europe Maribel Hernaez, ABS-CBN Vice President for Sports Peter Musngi, ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer, ABS-CBN Head of Management March Ventosa and ABS-CBN Head of Intergrated Sports Dino Laurena.

WBO Vice President Leon Panoncillo (R, above photo) will supervise the main event fight between Servania and Cabrera for the WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title while IBF’s Onesmo Ngowi will supervise the fight between Arthur Villanueva and Henry Maldonado for IBF International junior bantamweight title. 

The first fight will start at 7:00 p.m. Friday night at the Dubai World Trade Center and will be broadcast live in the Philippines by pay per view and will replayed by ABS-CBN Saturday night.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-98578.html

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

WBO minimumweight champion Merlito “Tiger”Sabillo knows he won’t have an easy title defense against Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday in a fight to be telecast by ABS-CBN Sports and Action over the revamped Studio 23.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Sabillo watched tapes of Rodriguez’ fights “a number of times” and concedes “it won’t be an easy fight because Rodriguez can box, he is technical fighter who is smart and  can punch” as shown in his record of 9 knockouts in 13 wins with just two defeats.

Aldeguer said that he had spoken to trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor who will be in the corner of Sabillo and that he was informed “training has been perfect and it was the best training camp they ever had.”

Villamor told us that they have been concentrating on “the battle plan after watching tapes and doing some instructional punch-mitts.” He also went through the regular routine of skipping rope, shadow boxing., working om the speed ball and light bagging.”

In his strength and conditioning regimen Sabillo swam in the pool, some plyometrics, sprints, balancing and some exercises on his body to relax his muscles.”

He said they worked on the conditioning of the undefeated southpaw with strength and conditioning coach Nick Carson and that Sabillo who possesses a vicious left hook was in great shape.

Aldeguer said Sabillo, the 30 year old former street fighter from Bacolod City who is undefeated with a record of 23-0-1 with 12 knockouts “wants to make a statement and while it won’t be an easy fight Sabillo is ready to go.”

The ALA Promotions outfit didn’t take any chances and Aldeguer told us “ that’s why Merlito flew to the US to train abroad for this fight” both at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and in the Daniel Ponce De Leon gym .

He said Sabillo has been “tapering down in San Diego and getting ready for the fight.” He will be joined by ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Canete who left for the US on Saturday night and will join the team to Mexico.

Knowing how dangerous a challenger Rodriguez is, Aldeguer said thay have “two options and in case Sabillo loses there will be a rematch.”

He said “we have everything prepared and if he does well it will be good for his career.”

Sabillo is coming off a close split draw against undefeated Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua at the Araneta Coliseum last November 30 after scoring a one-punch, 9th round  knockout with a thunderous left hook to the ribs against Colombia’s Jorlie Estrada.

The 20 year old Rodriguez won a 5th round technical decision over Ernesto Guerrero who suffered an apparent rib injury last January 18 after going down by a 7th round TKO to Roman Gonzalez, the undefeated WBA light flyweight champion from Nicaragua  on September 21 last year.

Rodriguez also had two big wins prior to the loss to Gonzales, scoring a 3rd round TKO over Manuel Chango” Vargas on January 26, 2013 and a 5th round TKO over Victor Ruiz on July 13.

 http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-expects-tough-title-defense-against-rodriguez–75723

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Revenge is on the mind of undefeated WBO “Best Boxer of the Year” and the reigning WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania when he faces Panama’s former WBA super flyweight interim champion Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion for the WBO Intercontinental title at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu on Saturday.

The “Pinoy Pride XXII” card staged by the famed ALA Promotions in partnership with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN will be telecast on The Filipino Channel with a delayed telecast at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday over Channel 2.

The bad blood between the cocky Concepcion who scored a stunning 10th round knockout over fancied  AJ “Bazooka”  Banal on July 26, 2008 and has vowed to give Servania an even more humiliating defeat resulted in a fierce exchange of words during a post weigh-in stare-down at the Ayala Activity  Center Friday,  forcing GAB official Celso  Miranda to step in and separate the two fighters.

Concepcion annoyed Servania when he offered him a blue pillow taunting the Filipino prospect by claiming he would put him to sleep early.

Servania promised to make Concepcion eat his words and adding, “I trained hard for this fight and will make him eat his words.”

Taking a cue from Concpcion, Mexico’s Edgar “Chololo” Martinez said he would shock the world and upset undefeated “King” Arthur Villanueva in their WBO International super flyweight title fight.

Boasting that Mexicans are the best fighters in the world, Martinez asked Villanueva to take a look t his fists because it would be the last thing he would see.

Villanueva reacted calmly and indicated he will let his fists do the talking in the ring. Rated by all four major world boxing organizations, Villanueva is hoping that an impressive showing against Martinez will help line him up for a wold title shot.

http://www.boxingscene.com/genesis-servenia-concepcion-bad-blood-continues–70970

Por Pablo Fletes –

El campeón nicaragüense, Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago, enfrentara al campeón filipino, Merlito Sabillo, el próximo 30 de noviembre, en el legendario Coliseo Araneta de Manila, Filipinas, y no en Emiratos Árabes Unidos, como había sido anunciado en un principio. La  pelea que sería televisada por ABS-CBN.

El Coliseo Araneta fue el escenario del “Thrilla in Manila”, en donde Muhammad Ali enfrentó, por tercera vez, a Joe Frazier, en 1975.

Buitrago, de la cuadra del Dream Team del promotor cubano Carlos Rodriguez, es el campeón mínimo interino de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), Sabillo es el campeón regular mínimo de la OMB, y por decisión de la OMB, ambos deben enfrentarse para dejar a un único campeón.

El Sabillo-Buitrago es un duelo muy esperado por la fanaticada, ya que no solo se consolida un solo campeón del peso mínimo OMB, si no que será un enfrentamiento de dos de los mejores exponentes de las divisiones chicas, quienes arriesgaran sus invictos, Sabillo (23-0, 12 KOs) y Carlos Buitrago (27-0, 16 KOs), y poseen estilos depurados y agresivos.

A pesar que diferentes medios, incluyendo BoxRec y RingTV, anuncian que la pelea se había trasladado a Filipinas, en Nicaragua, el manejador de Buitrago, Silvio Conrado Jr., expresó que aún no ha recibido el contrato de pelea, para oficializar el cambio de sede. “Los filipinos me dijeron que iban a enviarme la propuesta, pero aún no ha llegado y la esperamos en cualquier momento”, dijo Conrado Jr.

En la misma función, se espera la reaparición del campeón mundial minimosca de la OMB, Donnie Nietes (31-1-4, 17 KOs), ante un retador por anunciar. Nietes, quien estaría realizando su tercera defensa titular, no ve acción desde el pasado mes de marzo, cuando empato con el mexicano Moises Fuentes, en una pelea en donde sufrió sendos cortes, que lo mantuvieron en la banca. If you want to feel the thrill of winning massive jackpots, weekly bonuses and promotions from a selection of online pokie games, video poker, blackjack, roulette and other games, then you may find an australian licensed online casinos . Legal casinos are available 24 hours a day with hundreds of games to choose from.

Además, se espera el regreso del ex retador mundial, Milan Melindo (29-1, 12 KOs), ante un oponente por anunciar. Melindo vuelve por primera vez, desde su fallido intento mundialista, ante el campeón mosca mexicano, Juan Francisco Estrada, el pasado mes de julio.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Buitrago_podr_a_pelear_en_Filipinas.php

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Undefeated 22 year old Genesis Servania, regarded as one of the more promising prospects from the famed ALA Gym faces a tough challenge from Rafael “El Torito” Concepcionr who scored a 10th round knockout over AJ “Bazooka in a WBA super flyweight interim title fight at the Cebu C oliseum on July 26, 2008.

The WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight title defense of Servania will take place at the at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino on October 26 and will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN on its top-rating “Pinoy Pride” series over Channel 2 and will also be carried globally on The Filipino Channel which is widely watched especially in the Middle East.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer who  was with vice president Dennis Canete in a luncheon meeting with ABS-CBN’s Peter Musngi informed the Manila Standard that they had received the signed contract from Concepcion only on Wednesday. Concepcion had also faced Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and dropped a twelve round unanimous decision on August 15, 2009.

In case the Concepcion fight didn’t push through ALA Promotions was considering featherweight Ruben “Canelito” Tamayo as a replacement just in case Concepcion failed to send them the signed contract.

Tamayo is coming of a majority draw against undefeated Filipino Jun Doliguez last July 20 in Mexico and is an accomplished fighter with a record of 22-4-4- with 16 knockouts and gave the fancied Doliguez a hard fight.

The 22 year old Servania is coming off an exciting war with Japan’s Konosuke Tomiyama on the undercard of the WBO flyweight title fight which Milan Melindo lost after a gallant stand against Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada who had earlier won the title from WBO/WBA champion Brian Viloria.

In an action-packed battle Servania was dropped twice in the opening round but came back to drop Tomiyana late in the opening round and once again in the third before winning a 9th round technical decision after being cut on the eyelid because of an accidental head-butt and was ruled unfit to continue.

http://www.boxingscene.com/genesis-servania-tough-with-rafael-concepcion-10-26–69945

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Ala Promotions president Michael Aldeguer is looking to stage a double world title fight card in Dubai in October in partnership with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN whose “Pinoy Pride” series continues to register remarkable TV ratings.

Aldeguer told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard he is “really working on putting up something really big in Dubai” and is considering a mandatory title defense of WBO minimumweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo against Nicaragua’s Nicaragua’s undefeated Carlos Buitrago.

The 21 year old Buitrago has an impressive record, being unbeaten in 27 fights with 16 knockouts. He won the Interim title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Julian Yedres who was also undefeated at that time with a record of 21-0 with 13 knockouts, on July 20 this year.

He had earlier scored a 6th round TKO over Colombia’s Jorlie Estrada who was knocked out in the 9th round by Sabillo at the plush Solaire Resort and Casino overlooking Manila Bay last July 13.

Buitrago had also beaten Eddy Castro of Nicaragua  by a  2nd round TKO on May 6, 2011 and followed with a 5th round TKO exactly one year later. Castro is the same fighter who was knocked out in the second round by then minimum  weight champion Donnie Nietes in a title defense on August 30, 2008.

Sabillo who is a devastating puncher and an aggressive fighter has a record of  23-0 with 12 knockouts and was a former street fighter in Bacolod who moved to the famed ALA Gym at the age of 25. He is now 29.

Plans call for Sabillo to headline the card alongside WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes.

Aldeguer said “we can’t prolong the wait for Nietes and we will discuss with ABS-CBN’s Peter Musngi the chances of staging a world title double-header and indicated there  is “a strong possibility” it would  happen.

Aldeguer said he was informed recently in Macau by Zanfer Promotions that mandatory challenger Moises Fuentes suffered a cut in his last fight when he scored a ten round unanimous decision over Gerardo Verde in Tijuana on June 28 and that since they can’t wait  until next year, Nietes who retained his title with a close majority draw when he first faced Fuentes last March 2, they  may have a voluntary defense before a Fuentes rematch.

He said that next year the plan is to set-up operations in San Diego, California and will study the chance to put on the Nietes title defense against Fuentes in the United States.

http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-nietes-wbo-doubleheader-eyed-dubai–68346

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Nicaragua’s undefeated Carlos Buitrago will face WBO minimumweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo in the Filipino’s second title defense planned for Dubai this October in a joint presentation of ALA Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN.

WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel gave us the information at a dinner hosted for him, Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas  and  Mexican promoter Felix “Tito” Zabala  by ABS-CBN’s Gabby Lopez at the Intercontinental Hotel Wednesday.

Buitrago is only 21 years old but has an impressive record, being unbeaten in 27 fights with 16 knockouts.

He won the Interim title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Julian Yedres who was also undefeated at that time with a record of 21-0 with 13 knockouts, on July 20 this year.

Buitrago had earlier scored a 6th round TKO over Colombia’s Jorlie Estrada who was knocked out in the 9th round by Sabillo at the plush Solaire Resort and Casino overlooking Manila Bay last July 13.

Buitrago had also beaten Eddy Castro of Nicaragua by a 2nd round TKO on May 6, 2011 and followed with a 5th round TKO exactly one year later. Castro is the same fighter who was knocked out in the second round by then minimum  weight champion Donnie Nietes in a title defense on August 30, 2008.

Sabillo who is a devastating puncher and an aggressive fighter has a record of  23-0 with 12 knockouts and was a former street fighter in Bacolod who moved to the famed ALA Gym at the age of 25. He is now 29.

http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-vs-buitrago-wbo-title-fight-heads-dubai–68210

By Jake Donovan –

Milan Melindo is as humble as he is talented. The unbeaten Filipino flyweight was in awe during his first trip to Macau, appearing on the undercard of Zou Shiming’s pro debut this past April.

Aside from Shiming’s predicted win, the first ever card at the Venetian Macao was a night of upsets and other unexpected outcomes. Among them was Melindo’s whirlwind performance, a four-round knockout of Tommy Seran to improve his record to 29-0 (12KO).

The 25-year old knew he needed to deliver something spectacular in order to get people talking. That three-knockdown effort has allowed his career to come full circle; he returns to Macau this weekend, where he will face Juan Estrada for a pair of flyweight titles.

The bout airs on ABS-CBN in Melindo’s native Philippines and via same-day tape delay on HBO2 (5:30PM ET) in the United States.

“This fight, I predicted before I left the United States, will be a candidate for Fight of the Year,” promoter Bob Arum believes. “It matches the pride of the Philippines – you saw him on the card in April – Milan Melindo against the champion Juan Francisco Estrada. This is a can’t miss action fight.”

Estrada won the belts on that very same April show, scoring a major upset over Brian Viloria to lay his claim as one of the best flyweights in the world. Melindo paid attention that bout, as well as what the flyweights had to say during the press conference leading up to the fight.

“In my last fight here in Venetian Macao last April, in the same conference, I was standing (in the crowd) watching the people standing (on stage) and speaking,” Melindo recalls of the event. “I stood there thinking, someday I will be here on this stage to stand and speak.

“Now I’m here to let everyone know that I am Milan Melindo.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/milan-melindo-ready-prove-worth-on-world-title-stage–68015

By:  Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Undefeated Milan Melindo, mandatory challenger to WBO/WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada is fit and ready to go in their title fight scheduled at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on Saturday in an exciting fight card to be telecast by ABS-CBN on Sunday at 10:15 a.m, over Channel 2 with a replay on Studio 23 and global coverage over The Filipino Channel, TFC.

ALA Gym head trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor told the Manila Standard from Macau that Melindo is “ready na ready” after some light training in which he “did some jogging, shadow boxing and worked on the punch-mitts.”

Villamor said they also “lectured on the strategy” for the fight which is expected to be a tough one against Estrada who won the title from Brian Viloria last April 6 at the same arena, coming on strong in the championship rounds to clinch the victory.

Villamor said Melindo has been training harder than ever in his two-year quest for the world title and knows he is in for a hard fight.

He said the 25 year old Melindo who has a record of 29-0 with 12 knockouts “is in great shape, his conditioning is good and he’s ready to get the title.” The 23 year old Estrada who will be making his first title defense and has a record of 24-2 with 18 knockouts also had a light workout last night at the Venetian Hotel and looked good.

Headlining the card is two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou Shiming who will take on Mexico’s Jesus Ortega.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-85455.html

By:  Ronnie Nathanielz –

Ricky Vargas, the president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines or ABAP, was impressed with the performance of World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo in his successful first title defense against Colombia’s No. 6 world-ranked contender Jorlie Estrada during the Pinoy Pride XXI at the Solaire Resort and Casino last Saturday.

Vargas, who watched the ABS-CBN telecast of the fights on Sunday told the Manila Standard he liked the aggressive stance of Sabillo as he “kept chasing his opponent, who was scared and kept running.”

Vargas said the crunching left hook to the ribs that dropped Estrada, who went down grimacing in pain and was counted out by referee Raul Caiz Jr. in the 9th round was “a perfect punch. It was devastating.”

Vargas believes Sabillo has a good future in the pro ranks.

The WBO champion is likely to defend his title in Dubai this October if ALA Promotions is unable to schedule a title defense for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes in Dubai in September.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told us the priority is Nietes.

“He needs to fight. We are trying to move heaven and earth to get a fight in Dubai, but if it can’t be done in September, we’ll have to do it here, possibly in Davao City where the last Pinoy Pride XX was very well received,” he said.

Aldeguer also said he, too, was impressed with the showing of Sabillo, who made a fight out of it against a back-pedaling Estrada. Sabillo cut the ring off well and scored with vicious body shots before eventually knocking out Estrada.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/17/sabillo-impresses-boxing-association-chief/

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

A disciplined no-nonsense fighter, undefeated Milan Melindo is determined to regain the WBO/WBA flyweight titles for the Philippines when he faces Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on July 27.

Estrada won the title from another Filipino, Brian Viloria, at the same venue last April 6 and mandatory challenger Melindo wants to bring the title back to the Philippines.

Trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor told the Manila Standard that Melindo has been training harder than ever because he knows he’s in for a tough fight against Estrada but that Melindo is in great shape and they have concentrated on his conditioning.

Villamor told us Melindo “is in great shape, his conditioning is good and he’s ready to get the title.”

The 25 year old Melindo has a record of 29-0 with 12 knockouts while the 23 year old Estrada’s record is 24-2 with 18 knockouts.

Top Rank promoter said the Top Rank promotion is “doing even better than the last time” when Viloria lost his WBO/WBA titles to Estrada in a tough fight.

The fight card will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN on Sunday, July 28 at 10:15 a.m.

Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao who will return to the ring on November 23 against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios at the same venue, will be at special ringside for the fights following a news conference earlier in the afternoon.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-85031.html

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer plans to stage a voluntary title defense of World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes sometime in September in Dubai.

Aldeguer spoke to the Manila Standard following his return from the United Arab Emirates, along with vice president Dennis Canete and ABS-CBN Sports Peter Musngi, who joined them in Dubai for a series of meetings with officials of The Filipino Channel, headed by Maribel Rodriguez and various events specialists.

The Dubai fight card is just one part of the exciting expansion plans of ALA Promotions, in partnership with ABS-CBN, which will also see fight cards  promoted in the United States sometime next year.

Musngi told Manila Standard that “more venues are available in September,” and that was the reason for not pushing the title fight to October when “lots of things are happening.”

With the large Filipino community in Dubai, who have enjoyed the highly successful “Pinoy Pride” series telecast live on The Filipino Channel of  ABS-CBN, Musngi said: “The prospects are great.”

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/04/ala-exec-plans-nietes-title-defense-in-dubai/

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Jorlie Estrada who challenges WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo in a breakthrough title fight at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in the Entertainment City along Manila Bay on July 13, cannot be underestimated.

Although he has a record of 17 wins, 6 by knockouts with 6 losses, Colombian media has warned that it would be a mistake to underestimate Estrada as an opponent pointing out that he has won his last four fights including back-to-back victories  over Jorge Ballesteros including a 1st round TKO in their first encounter on March 17, 2012.

The 24 year old Colombian’s last loss was to talented Mexican Pedro Guevara who won by a 7th round TKO in a North American Boxing Federation light flyweight title fight on October 22, 2011 when he moved up in weight to face Guevara who gave IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero a tough battle before losing by a split decision in Mexico last August 4.

In his last fight on June 8 in Colombia, Estrada won by a 3rd round TKO over  Gustavo Cortes, a veteran of 39 fights.

Sabillo made a name for himself in Colombia when he scored a rousing 8th round TKO over highly fancied Luis  “Chino” De La Rosa, also of Colombia who had an impressive record of 21-1 with 12 knockouts.

Colombian media reported “that day the Filipino, almost unknown, showed his great condition and surprised everyone by his speed.

Sabillo, a hard-hitting southpaw is undefeated in 22 fights with 11 wins by knockout.
His trainer, Edito “Ala” Villamor told the Manila Standard that Sabillo has trained hard and is in great shape and is determined to put on an exciting performance as the highly-rated “Pinoy Pride” series of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN makes its initial venture into the resort hotel and casino complex in the country’s growing entertainment city which aims to give Macau and Singapore a run for their money.

http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-not-underestimate-estrada-despite-record–67030