by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Ala Promotions and Viva Artists Agency, an arm of showbiz and movie czar Vic Del Rosario’s Viva Entertainment Group signed an agreement at the Cebu Grand Hotel at a Friday luncheon that would help boost the careers of three boxers initially – WBO minimum weight champion Donnie Nietes, world rated AJ “Bazooka” Banal and the popular Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
Del Rosario whose passion for boxing is second only to his entertainment wizardry and the uncanny ability to discover and build superstars such as Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla to name just two and in more recent times the likes of Sarah Geronimo, Anne Curtis and Mark Bautista, has long wanted to give boxers a break by enhancing their public appeal and providing an additional income stream through product endorsements and possible TV appearances and even movies.
Needless to say Nietes, Banal and Bautista were overjoyed at the possibilities with Nietes indicating he was willing to sing and dance while Boom Boom had dreams of becoming an action star in the mould of a Robin Padilla and hoping that Anne Curtis could be a leading lady.
Banal was ready to sing and dance his way into the hearts of Filipinos even as his priority remains a world title in boxing.
Del Rosario believes that there is a whole new world open for athletes as celebrity endorsers and entertainers and cited the resounding success achieved by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
He also emphasized that Viva’s role would only be in terms of talent management and would have nothing to do with ALA Promotions whose agreement with ABS-CBN will always be respected especially since the giant network has done a great job in promoting and covering the fights of the ALA boxers in partnership with ALA Promotions.
Aldeguer who has taken over the helm of ALA Promotions from hius father, respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer said he was overjoyed for the boxers as a result of the agreement with VIVA and said it would mean greater projection and bigger things for their fighters.
He also indicated that the agreement would enhance efforts to stage a Nietes title defense in the Philippines instead of the champion having to defend his title as he has done three times already in the hometowns of Mexican challengers.
