The famed ALA Promotions, unquestionably the top promotional outfit in the Philippines and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN are most definitely taking a gamble in staging ?Pinoy Pride XIV? at the Resort World Hotel in Manila on Saturday (today).
That?s because they have, through thirteen episodes mostly at the jam-packed and classy Waterfront Hotel & Casino put on some excellent cards that have turned in terrific ratings. Whether they'll do the same numbers in attendance remains to be seen although the TV ratings should even improve.
The one fight that was a letdown was that farcical main event in Tagbilaran City, Bohol last year. That was when an impostor identified as Genaro ?Panterita? Garcia was foisted on ALA Promotions by a scheming Mexican matchmaker - Hugo Correa - instead of the fighter they had contracted for, Genaro ?Poblanito? Garcia.
To be sure it was an embarrassment for both ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN but it was also, more than that, an enterprise in which they both lost a substantial amount of money as ALA Promotions patron Tony Andeguer and ALA president Michael Aldeguer did the honorable thing and refunded the money of ticket holders.
The fake Garcia?s fight against Rey ?Boom Boom? Garcia was such a charade that ABS-CBN vice president for sports Peter Musngi decided not to telecast the bout which lasted two rounds and in the process also lost sponsorship revenue.
To their eternal credit ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN decided almost immediately that they would make every effort to bring the real ?Poblanito? Garcia to Manila no matter what it took and how much it cost. And they did.
?Poblanito? Garcia has fought five world champions but he?s also been beaten by a few others including WBC super bantamweight Toshiaki Nishioka. In a title fight on January 3, 2009 in Yokohama internationally respected referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight in the 12th round when Garcia was being badly beaten by the classy Japanese southpaw.
Garcia, a little on the cocky side, effectively told a pre-fight press conference at the Ipil Room of the Bay View Hotel on Thursday that the undefeated Gensis Servania (`17-0, 5 KO?s) was far too inexperienced to face him and that he would ?take him to school.?
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