by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Saturday that he had "a great meeting" with ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer during his last visit to Manila and there are plans to include some of the ALA fighters on the Top Rank cards in the future.
Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard "We are planning to have some Filipino fighters sent to Las Vegas to train in the Top Rank Gym, get some really good sparring and we will use them over a six month period. Some will go back to the Philippines and fight there, maybe all of them and we are going to keep using this program to develop the Filipino fighters both for the Philippines and the United States."
The Top Rank promoter revealed that his matchmakers are "all impressed with Milan Melindo. I've never seen him but they say that this kid has all the tools and he's a future great."
He said "thats what they told me without any prompting from anybody. I haven't seen him so I'm very, very anxious to see him. You and Dyan (Castillejo of ABS-CBN) have done most of his fights and I can't wait to see him."
The plans call for the ALA fighters to fight under the aegis of MP Promotions which has an agreement with Top Rank to facilitate the inclusion of Filipino fighters on their promotions in the US.
Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz also indicated they were interested in AJ "Bazooka" Banal, the talented southpaw.
Aldeguer had earlier told us he had spoken to Robert Garcia, trainer of Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire about handling the ALA fighters here in the US and that Garcia is willing to undertake the task.
