The ALA Gym Triumvirate: Philippine Boxers Hurt by Hype

The Philippines is very proud of the success of Manny Pacquiao in the international boxing scene.  Imagine a third world country that has outdated sports program (amateur specifically) produced a boxing icon that will be remembered in the years even generations to come.

The success of this man is somehow the downfall of the upstarts.

Take the ALA boxing triumvirate of Z Gorres, Boom-Boom Bautista, and Bazooka Banal. These three were very good prospects a few years back until their recent fights. Boom-Boom and Bazooka were undefeated and Gorres had only lost once.

The Philippine media shared a big part in their downfall. They were the culprits actually. These three were all over prints and on TV all the time, stating that one of them could be “the next big thing” in Philippine boxing.

They fought headliners here and abroad, they were always being talked about and paraded in their native towns whenever they score a W.

Unconsciously, they were being pressured by the media and their handlers. They haven’t proven anything to deserve this treatment from their people.

They fought in the US but they faced two week replacements, a.k.a. patsies. What can you get from these fighters? They just give our fighters Ws but not the knowledge and toughness that can carry them in the years to come.

It’s an absolute mismatch!

When they were matched up with world class competition, I was not surprised with the results. Gorres vs Montiel, Boom-Boom vs De Leon, and AJ vs Concepcion, though I wanted them to win, there was always doubt in my mind that they can pull it off.

It’s too much media hype for the triumvirate. Maybe if they were treated like ordinary upstart fighters and not as “rockstars” they could have handled the pressure of fighting for our country better.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Filipino handlers are obsessed with Freddie Roach. They want their fighters to train in the Wild Card Gym and it’s getting crowded. With all due respect to Mr. Roach, why not try, McGirt, Goosen, or Mayweather Sr., or House?

Gorres used to be with  Buddy McGirt but switched to Roach, Bryan Villoria once hooked up with Joe Goosen. Would you believe that lone Beijing Olympian’s handlers Harry Tanamor considered sending him to the Wild Card to train before the Olympics? Crazy? Addicted to Coach Roach!