By Dong Secuya –

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DUBAI – Filipino boxers Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania, ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva and Rey ‘Boom-Boom’ Bautista won their respective fights against Latino opponents in the ‘Pinoy Pride XXVII – Duel in Dubai’ Friday night at the Dubai World Trade Center here to the delight of a full house mostly Filipino crowd who treated the evening’s event like a big party.

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Servania’s opponent, Jose ‘Matador’ Cabrera from Mexico, quit at the beginning of the 10th round to give Servania the TKO victory and retained his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title. True to his monicker, Cabrera’s stance was like a matador who allowed Servania to throw the first punch before throwing his own counters. Servania, however, timed his punches perfectly and caught Cabrera with a left-right combination that sent Cabrera down to the canvas in the second round. In the third round, Servania, sensing Cabrera was hurt, continued to put pressure as he punished Cabrera with left crosses and looping rights. At the end of the round, Referee Danrex Tapdasan went to Cabrera’s corner and summoned the ring physician to check Cabrera’s condition.

It appeared that it’s only a matter of time before Servania was going to finish the Mexican. In the 4th round, as Servania continued to put on the pressure with the aim of knocking out Cabrera, the Mexican connected with some big counters that stopped Servania on his track and completely changed the complexion of the fight. In the 5th and succeeding rounds, Servania became hesitant as Cabrera’s confidence grew and suddenly Servania’s victory was put in peril. Cabrera probably took the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds before Servania came back strong in the 8th and 9th rounds putting back Cabrera on the defensive. Cabrera was deducted a point in the 8th round for excessive low blow before a clash of heads in the ninth round caused a cut under Cabrera’s left eye. At the end of the ninth round, Cabrera’s cornerman stopped the fight to give Servania a TKO victory in an anti-climactic ending. Servania was widely ahead on the three judges’ scorecards before the stoppage. Servania later said after the fight that he had suffered leg cramps by the 6th round. Servania has now upped his undefeated record to 25 wins with 11 knockouts. The ‘matador’ from Mexico has dropped to 24 wins, 5 losses and two draws.

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Villanueva vs. Maldonado

In the other regional title fight, Arthur Villanueva captured the IBF International Jr Bantamweight Title by defeating Henry ‘El Crespo’ Maldonado of Nicaragua via split decision with scores of 117-110, 116-113 in favor Villanueva and 114-113 for Maldonado. After a quiet first round where both fighters had a feeling out of each other, an explosion of punches came out in the second round when Villanueva connected with a left-right combination that staggered the Nicaraguan. As Villanueva pursued, Maldonado unleashed a flurry of punches of his own that caught Villanueva and sent the Filipino to the canvas in a flash knockdown. When the fight resumed, a phone-booth battle ensued that put jampacked crowd at the edge of their seats. After the smoke of the 2nd round battle subsided, Villanueva, later admiting that Maldonado had hurt him, decided to box and transformed the fight into a battle of wits and attrition until the fight ended. Maldonado was cut in his scalp from the second round fireworks and later sustained multiple cuts in his forehead, eyebrows and the back of his head as the fight progressed. Villanueva has now improved his undefeated record to 26 wins with 14 knockouts while Maldonando dropped to 19-4-0.

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Bautista vs. Martinez

The popular Boom-Boom Bautista won by majority decision against Juan Jose ‘Piquet’ Martinez of Mexico with scores of 68-65, 67-65 and 66-66 in a 10-round non-title fight. As expected, the fight developed into a slambang affair where each fighter was trying to knock each other out. Bautista however got the better of the exchanges most of the time and put Martinez to the canvas in the 5th round. Martinez also had his moments where he cut Bautista’s left eyebrow with a punch and also appeared to hurt Boom-Boom in the later rounds. In the 7th round, a clash of heads caused Bautista a deep cut in his left eyelid where blood was oozing profusely. Veteran referee Bruce McTavish summoned ring physician Rene Bonsubre to check on Bautista’s cut where Bonsube recommended to McTavish to stopped the fight. Bautista has improved his record to 36-3-0 with 26 knockouts while Martinez suffered his 2nd defeat in 21 fights. 

In the undercard, local favorite Filipino Larry Abarra of the Round 10 Boxing Club of Dubai displayed pin-point punching and ring smarts to overpower and totally outbox Chatpayak Nuengkawkawhok of Thailand in a four round superbantamweight bout. 

Two other Round 10 Boxing Club mainstays Deo Kizito of Uganda and Mohammad Akram of Syria also won their bouts. Kizito edged Anusher Abdullaev of Uzbekistan with scores of 38-36, 38-37 and 38-37 while Akram scored three knockdowns against Thailand’s Kong Windy Sports en route to 2nd round knockout victory. 

The ALA Promotions’ and ABS-CBN’s first international boxing event on the highly popular ‘Pinoy Pride’ series was hugely successful as the 2,600 tickets printed for the event were sold-out. A few hundred people who came to the venue were not able to get in there were no more tickets available.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-98628.html

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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.

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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. 

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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

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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:  Dale G. Rosal / Photos taken from ALA Boxing Facebook /

ALA BOXING Gym stalwarts Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo and Donnie “Ahas” Nietes on Wednesday led a group of ALA Boxing Gym boxers in helping relief efforts for the typhoon victims in the Visayas.

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The WBO minimumweight champion Sabillo and WBO light flyweight champion Nietes are set to face different opponents this Nov. 30 in the Pinoy Pride XXIII: Filipinos Kontra Latinos at the Araneta Coliseum. Both are supposed to be busy training for the fight but they took time helping volunteers at the ABS-CBN complex in Jagobiao, Mandaue City repack and load the goods to be transported to the typhoon affected areas in Northern Cebu and in Eastern Visayas.

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Sabillo even called on other aspiring boxers to help, saying what they were doing was actually a good training for the sport.

Sabillo will fight Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago while Nietes will be defending his title against Sammy ‘Guty’ Gutierrez.

Joining the two champions were trainer Edito Villamor, WBO Asia Pacific and Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania and WBO International and Asia Pacific superflyweight champion “King” Arthur Villanueva. They were also joined by world title contender Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, who will also be fighting in the undercard of Pinoy Pride XXIII.

IDOL Boxing Series’ “Prince” Albert Pagara, Mark Bernaldez and Mark Gessel Magsayo also helped along with his brother Jason “El Nino” Pagara, Rey Bautista, Rocky Fuentes, Jimrex Jaca, Juren Labordo and Roli Gasca.

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According to Villamor, ALA Boxing Gym founder Antonio L. Aldeguer donated relief goods for the typhoon victims. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL

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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

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Melindo vows to avenge Viloria’s loss

By Dale G. Rosal –

WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion Milan “Metodico” Melindo (29-0,12KOs) described WBO and WBA World Lightflyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada (24-2, 18KOs) of Mexico as an average boxer whose style perfectly fits his.

The two tangle on July 27 at The Venetian in Macau, China got the Mexican’s dual titles.

The unbeaten Melindo, of the ALA Boxing Gym said he is confident of beating Estrada who snatched the two world titles of Filipino Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria last April in the very first major boxing event staged in Asia’s gambling capital.

“I am expecting the same fight like what I encountered before. The big difference is that there are two world titles at stake”  Melindo told Cebu Daily News Monday during a lull in his training at the ALA Boxing Gym in Talamban.

“Yes, he is a champion but for me, he is just an ordinary boxer who can punch hard.”

Melindo said Estrada’s pressure fighting style fits his counter-punching prowess. “I love my opponents who pressure me because no matter how many punches they throw at me, I know I can stop them with one punch,” said Melindo who vowed Estrada is in for a big surprise on fight night.

Melindo also revealed that he is nearing tip-top shape with just a month left in his rigid three-month training under the watchful eyes of veteran trainer Edito Villamor.

“Right now I’m focussing on improving my power, speed and especially my footwork and agility,” said Melindo.

He mentioned that his spar mates, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes (35-6-2, 20KOs) and undefeated super flyweight prospect Melvin Gumban (14-0, 6KOs) were a big help in his pursuit to become a world champion.

He claimes to have finished more than 50 rounds of sparring.

SERVANIA EXCITED ABOUT FIRST  FIGHT ABROAD

Meanwhile, undefeated WBO Asia Pacific Superbantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania (21-0, 8KOs), is  excited for his first fight abroad against Japanese Konosuke Tomiyama (23-5-1, 8KOs) in the undercard of the Melindo-Estrada’s showdown.

“We are training very hard for this fight because we all know that Japanese boxers are very tough,” said Servania.

“I’ve seen his fight tapes, he is a good fighter but he lacks defense, that’s why I have to be very aggressive” he added. “This is a very big opportunity that ALA Promotions have given me and I am very thankful for that.”

Tomiyama is a former OPBF super flyweight champion.

Both Servania and Melindo are flying to Manila to process their travel documents for their planned training in the US.