From left, Jason Pagara, Donnie Nietes, ALA CEO Michael Aldeguer, Prince Albert Pagara and mark Magsayo gather at the Pinoy Pride 33 launching. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
After five years of planning, ALA Promotions International is finally going to hold its first fight card in the United States.
The fight card, dubbed “Filipinos Kontra Latinos,” will be the 33rd edition of the Pinoy Pride series and is set to be held on Oct. 17 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, USA.
Leading the cast of boxers in the boxing event is longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion and current WBO light-flyweight king Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, who sports a record of 36-1-4 (win-loss-draw) with 21 knockouts. He will be joined by the charismatic Pagara brothers, WBO International Super-lightweight champion Jason (36-2, 22KOs) and IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Albert (27-0,14KOs).
Also fighting will be unbeaten Boholano IBF youth featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (11-0, 9KOs).
The Filipino contenders will be taking on top caliber Latino opponents although no names were given yet yesterday during the event’s launching at the Montebello Villa Hotel.
ALA Promotions International CEO Michael P. Aldeguer said his first US fight card is a dream come true for him and his father, Antonio L. Aldeguer.
“In the last five years, we’ve been working on it but we never expected this to finally happen,” said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer said Nietes will be fighting a boxer in the top 15 of his division since the fight is going to be a voluntary defense.
“I’m sure Latino world champions like Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzales would agree to fight Donnie Nietes or other Filipino contenders because they know it’s held in the US and not here in the Philippines,” Aldeguer added.
Nietes successfully defended his title against former world champion Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr. last July here in Cebu. “I am very excited to showcase my talents [in the US] and raise the flag of our country,” Nietes said.