As if the main event isn’t explosive enough, ALA Promotions, arguably the biggest boxing promotional outfit in the country, made the upcoming Pinoy Pride 18: World Champion vs World Champion more interesting by bringing in a foreign fighter best remembered for beating one of ALA Gym’s prized stalwarts.
Angky “Time Bomb” Angkotta looks to conquer another ALA Gym stalwart when the Indonesian fighter battles Genesis “Azukal” Servania in the main undercard of the March 2 card at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Angkotta (26W-8L-1D-14KOs) owns the distinction of being the only boxer by far to defeat Donnie “Ahas” Nietes when he scored a split decision win against Nietes in their Sept. 28, 2004 encounter in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Angkotta has fought 11 Filipino boxers, losing just once against ALA Gym’s AJ “Bazooka” Banal in 2006. Included in the list of Angkota’s victims are former world champion Sonny Boy Jaro and ALA Gym’s Rocky Fuentes.
At stake in the fight is Servania’s WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight crown.
Servania will also be putting his unbeaten record on the line as the reigning WBC International Silver Super Bantamweight shoots for his 20th straight victory.
Servania has six knockout wins under his belt.
“This is one way of seeing if Genesis is ready for bigger fights,” said ALA Promotions president/CEO Michael Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the St. Mark Hotel.
NIETES VS MEXICAN
Nietes (31W-1L-3D-17KOs) has never tasted defeat since his loss to Angkotta en route to becoming a two-division champion.
Nietes aims to continue his winning ways as he faces the highly regarded Mexican boxer Moises Fuentes in the card’s main event.
Fuentes (16W-1L-8KOs) moved up to the heavier division to challenge Nietes and in the process relinquished his WBO World Minimumweight crown.
Fuentes’ camp reportedly claimed that Nietes doesn’t have the stamina to last and is vulnerable in the later rounds.
Nietes’ trainers disagreed.
“They are just playing mind games. Nietes didn’t fade when he defended his crown thrice in Mexico. It only happened once where Nietes slowed down in the later rounds but he has proven several times that he has the stamina to last 12 rounds,” Edito Villamor said.
Edito’s brother Edmund said they have studied Fuentes’ style.
“Fuentes’ best weapon is his straight right. Donnie has to be careful with that. Donnie can negate that straight right by pressuring Fuentes a lot,” Edmund said.
The card will also feature Jimrex Jaca vs. Thailand’s Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit, Butuan City’s Mark Bernaldez vs. Davao City’s Rolando Omela, Sultan Kudarat’s Ralph Lulu vs. Malaybalay City’s Alvin Makiling, Bacolod City’s Juren Labordo vs. Bohol’s Marlou Talili, Himamaylan City’s Rey Morales vs. Malaybalay’s Abel Gayhon and Japan’s Kazuma Ejiri vs. Cebu City’s Andrew Palas.
Tickets can be bought at ALA Gym BTC, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, ALAGC Office, SM Consolacion Cinema, ALA Gym Banawa, SM City Cebu Cinema, Formo Restaurant and Lounge at Banilad Town Center, SM Cebu Ticket Booth @ Food Court, Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites, Bisaya Ispisyal at the Ayala Center Cebu and Pacific Mall. /Editorial Assistant Calvin D. Cordova and Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.