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By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Undefeated WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania will headline an exciting ALA Promotions fight card at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino on March 1.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that Servania, one of the most promising fighters in the famous ALA Gym will be joined by another undefeated fighter, WBO International super flyweight and OPBF champion “King” Arthur Villanueva.

Aldeguer who leaves for the US on Thursday to try and finalize details of WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes’ next title defense with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and to complete the setting up of an ALA Gym in San Diego, California  said he is “ working in a big name opponent for Servania and also  Villanueva.

Servania who is rated No. 3 by the WBO behind No.1 ranked Chris Avalos and Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire who is at No. 2 has a record of 23-0 with 9 knockouts.

Aldeguer said Servania would join former flyweight title challenger Milan Melindo and train in the US and that he planned to have them spend a week at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles before training at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas.

The 22 year old is coming off an impressive 2nd round TKO of former WBA super flyweight champion Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion of Panama who had previously gone twelve rounds with Donaire in a fight where Concepcion came in four pounds over the limit last October 26, 2013.

Servania has a tough time against Japan’s Konusuke Tomiyama in Macau on a Top Rank card on July 27, 2013 when the Filipino won a 9th round technical decision because of a bloodied left eyelid caused by an accidental head-butt.

Servania was dropped twice in the opening round but came back to deck Tomiyama late in round one and once again in round three to win a close decision.

The 24 year old Villanueva who has a record of 24-0 with 14 knockouts won the vacant WBO International 115 pound title with a smashing 1st round knockout of Edgar   Martinez on October 26, 2013 after earlier winning the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title with a 4th round TKO of Arturo Badillo.

Villanueva captured the vacant Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title with a close unanimous decision over Japan’s Taiki Ito on December 19, 2012. Significantly, Japanese judge Yuji Fukuchi scored the fight 113-112 for Villanueva who was down in rounds one and nine but also decked Ito in round four.

He is ranked No. 3 by the WBO, No. 4 by the IBF, No. 8n by the WBA and No. 15 by the WBC.

http://www.boxingscene.com/genesis-servania-headline-ala-card-on-march-1–73249

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By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Both WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and minimumweight king Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo as well as challengers Sammy “Guty” Gutierrez of Mexico and unbeaten 21 year old Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua looked ripped and ready for their epic battles at the faned Araneta Coliseum tonight.

In a possible record-setting feat all 18 fighters on the “Pinoy Pride XXIII” card of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN tipped the scales at the maximum weight limit which in itself demonstrated how disciplined the fighters are and how ready they are for action in the biggest fight card at the Big Dome in years.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer assured BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that the fighters are here “not just to fight but to win and thats what boxing is all about. The condition of the fighters says it all.”

Aldeguer said “many people didn’t realize what we went through emotionally with the super typhoon and the massive earthquake. This is what its all about. We rise again. As promoters we feel we have an obligation to the fighters and hopefully this fight card
will start it all. With this event boxing is back in the Philippines  and hopefully it will make a statement that the world will realize we are here to stay and we’ll rise again” following the spectacular comeback victories of Manny Pacquiao and Nonito “The Filipino
Flash” Donaire.

Nietes who has been recognized as one of the top 100 fighters in the world today will be making his first appearance in the main event at the famed Araneta Coliseum and will be up against the rugged Mexican Sammy “Guty”Gutierrez who has faced world champions in the past and has a 5th round TKO over Roilo Golez and a 7th round TKO over Renan Trongco and is determined to make another Filipino his victim.

Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Nietes “wantsd to avenge the defeats of his countrymen and Donnie wants to prove a lot. He’s been a champion f or six years but he still doesn’t get the recognition that Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria get. Right now is the time to show what he can do. He knows how to win but he hasd to bring that excitement back.”

Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Sabillo is an “exciting fighter that people want to see after they heard about him and now its a defining moment in his career and if he wins it will raise him to a new level and the start of a whole new career.”

The ALA Promotions president said Sabillo is “so focused, nothing bothers him at all. We feel that he’s a special fighter, he’s an exciting fighter and can be a big star in the Philippines.”

Aldeguer said the Sabillo-Buitrago showdown “is a fight the people want to see. Two undefeated champions going after each other. What more can you ask for?”

Buitrago is the Interim champion and said he is determined to take the title back to Nicaragua buoyed by the fact that there will be a live coverage beamed to his hometown but Sabillo promised “that will never happen.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=72176

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By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

WBO minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo will make the first defense of his title on July 6, possibly at the plush Solaire Resort and Casino in the Entertainment City along Manila Bay.

Sabillo is undefeated with a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts and will face No. 6 ranked Jorle Estrada of Colombia in a voluntary defense.

The 24 year old Estrada who is five years younger than Sabillo has a record of 16-6 with 5 knockouts.

The hard-hitting Sabillo won the WBO Interim title with a stunning 8th round TKO over heavily favored Luis De La Rosa who was fighting before his hometown fans in Colombia but couldn’t handle the aggressive Filipino.

Sabillo was elevated to full champion after Moises Fuentes, who was struggling to make the 105 pound limit, relinquished the title and moved up to light flyweight where he failed to wrest the title from long-reigning champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who retained his title in a majority draw.

Fuentes wanted an immediate rematch but ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said they couldn’t accede to the request because Nietes suffered a nasty cut above the eye in that title defense and it took some time to heal.

Fuentes has been guaranteed a mandatory rematch sometime in November following conversations between Aldeguer and Zanfer Promotions of Mexico who wish to stage the title fight in Mexico.

However, Fuentes is scheduled to have a tune-up fight before then while Nietes will make a voluntary defense of his title in August although no deal has been finalized with his possible opponent as yet.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-83741.html

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CEBU CITY – Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo was formally presented as the new WBO mini-flyweight or minimumweight world champion during a press conference held today at the St. Mark’s Hotel. Sabillo, who won the interim 105 lb division title last month in Colombia by 8th round TKO against Luis dela Rosa, is the second reigning world champion from the ALA Gym of Cebu.

In the April 2013 rankings of the World Boxing Organization, Sabillo (21-0, 11KO’s) has been elevated to regular champion status. The former champion in his division, Moises Fuentes of Mexico, remains the number one challenger of Sabillo’s stable mate, Donnie Nietes, who is the WBO lt.flyweight champ.

ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer plans to stage a fight for Sabillo sometime July or August possibly in the fighter’s hometown of Bacolod City. There is also the option of making him fight abroad. ALA Promotions is set to stage a card in San Diego, California this year.

Sabillo’s sensational victory in Colombia was the topic of WBO boxing insiders in Macau days before the Brian Viloria-Juan Francisco Estrada WBO flyweight title bout. Those who have seen the fight are still in awe of Sabillo’s performance and predicted that he will be one of the great champions in the lower weight categories.

Sabillo’s number one contender is Denver ‘The Excitement’ Cuello of Iloilo which leaves the door open for a possible ‘Ilonggo Civil War’.

“Boxers will fight whoever our managers tell us to fight,” Sabillo said, “If it’s against another Filipino, it’s OK with me.”

“If it happens, who not?” Aldeguer added, “But are Filipino fans ready for a Filipino fighting another Filipino?”

Sabillo had to travel for almost two days and sleep in airports enroute to winning the title. When asked how he relaxes himself before the big fight, Sabillo said that “I just pray. I know that when I fight inside the ring, God is always there.”

http://philboxing.com/news/story-82602.html