PP9 boxers show wares in public sparring at Chinatown

THE 9th installment of Pinoy Pride is drawing near and the ALA Gym fighters are itching to prove their readiness for the Oct. 8 slugfest.

Today marks the second among many scheduled promotional tours with the fighters set to hold a public sparring session at the 888 Chinatown Mall featuring Bacolod’s hometown hero Donnie “Ahas” Nietes.

Nietes is scheduled to challenge Ramon “Principe” Garcia for the WBO world lightflyweight crown.

Garcia is a tough opponent who posted wins against stellar names in the division like Omar Soto, Manuel Vargas and Jesus Geles. He will be Nietes’ second opponent in another division — next to Armando Vasquez.

Ahas will be joined by fellow ALA Gym boxer AJ “Bazooka” Banal, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion who will defend his title against the undefeated KO artist Mario “Maca” Briones.

Other hometown heroes Arthur Villanueva and Merlito Sabillo will also be sparring and fighting in Bacolod.

Villanueva will fight Shaaban Madilu of Kenya while Sabillo will battle countryman Rodel Tejares Singwancha for the OPBF minimum-weight crown.

Rookie boxers who are hoping to become the next boxing superstars will also be present to show fans their readiness to hit the big time.

The Pinoy Pride mega boxing series is a brainchild of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports. /PR with Correspondent Dale Rosal