AWARD-WINNING TONYL: Aldeguer remains the yardstick for utmost professionalism

The sound of leather hitting the speed ball likened to machine gun fire, the thunderous noise of blows produced by gloves landing on the heavy bag and the unmistakable scent of liniment and sweat are long gone.

Even the chatter and seemingly endless shouting among fighters and their respective trainers can no longer be heard nowadays.

The ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu City, home of countless outstanding fighters — from the late 1980s until the years leading up to Covid — is a thing of the past.

What remains of the once-busy training center are mementos and pictures of fighters who once donned the solid black trunks emblazoned with the blood red initials of the big boss Antonio L. Aldeguer, the godfather of Philippine boxing.

Occasionally, former fighters of the ALA Boxing Club would drop by to say “hi” and “hello” to Aldeguer, who remains passionately in love with the fight game.

One day, reigning World Boxing Council minimumweight titleholder Melvin Jerusalem paid homage to Aldeguer just days before the former left for Japan to defend the WBC 105-pound belt a month and a half ago.

They did the usual greetings, talked about other matters but focused on boxing, the one thing that keeps the eighty-something Aldeguer up and about.

Though he is no longer as up-to-date as in the previous years, Aldeguer still stays in touch with what’s taking place in the boxing world and recognizes the faces who figure in marquee matchups.

Aldeguer’s office in the Queen City used to be where the boxing gym stood.

Back then it was home to the likes of Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes, Milan Melindo, Joma Gamboa, Rodel Mayol, Malcolm Tunacao, Edito Villamor, Mark Magsayo, Ray “Boom Boom” Bautista, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, Yukka Gejon, Wyndell Janiola, Randy Suico, Dindo Castanares, Michael Domingo, Andy Tabanas, Brix Flores and brothers Jun and Z Gorres, Arthur Villanueva and Jonas Sultan.

Raised in Bacolod City, the La Salle-educated Aldeguer, known as Bidoy or Tony, fell in love with boxing at a young age and idolized Flash Elorde, who was the country’s premier puncher before Manny Pacquiao arrived.

Before doing boxing promotions, Aldeguer used to handle Cebu’s most outstanding amateur stable.

An unfortunate incident during the national championships at Luneta in the 1980s compelled Aldeguer to enter the pro scene with a star-studded roster led by Peñalosa and Villamor.

But on a beautiful night just this last March, Aldeguer rekindled his love for the sport when he hosted an old friend from Manila and a trusted lieutenant from the old days.

Dining on sumptuous steaks and the Spanish culinary favorite callos which he himself ordered, Aldeguer asked the boxing guys around who was their top boxer of all time.

“Who do you think is the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time?

“Muhammad Ali,” said his confidante.

“Manny Pacquiao,” said another.

“Sugar Ray Robinson,” answered the Manila guy.

Aldeguer, who is quite shy and doesn’t like being in the spotlight, nodded.

The fellow who came up with the name that made Aldeguer smile added: “What made Robinson so great is because even up to this day, his style is still useful. He could fight with that style of his today and become very successful.”

Of course, his face likewise lit up when the conversation turned to Pacquiao.

Who wouldn’t?

Wearing a trendy black sports jacket, Aldeguer’s days as a boxing promoter wasn’t all rosy.

He had several heartbreaks along the way.

Villamor, who was among those he invited for dinner, had two unsuccessful tries at a world title, in Bangkok and in Las Vegas.

Then another favored fighter almost died after winning a fight in Las Vegas.

To this day, Aldeguer lends a hand to that fallen boxer.

During his heyday though, Aldeguer’s company was the toast of Philippine boxing.

It forged a relationship with a giant television network and aired big fights on a regular basis.

Several times they put up cards overseas, twice each in Dubai and the United States using the banner Pinoy Pride.

They had no rivals back then because Aldeguer was an absolute professional.

Later on, he handed over the reins to his son Michael, who continued running the business until the TV station got entangled in a feud with the previous administration and the pandemic messed up everyone’s lives.

Despite the hardships and heartaches, Aldeguer is still very much around being asked by sportswriters whenever a big fight looms on the horizon.

Retired from boxing for quite some time now, Aldeguer, who should have been the recipient of countless awards for everything he has done for the sport, remains a true boxing guy inside and out.

Take a bow, Tony Aldeguer.