It must have been about two years ago when we first (and last) came face-to-face with boxer Genesis Servania for a one-on-one interview, along with his ALA stablemates Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Milan “El Methodico” Melindo, who top-billed an international triple main event at Resorts World Hotel and Casino.
could be mistaken but I don’t recall Servania carrying the moniker “Azukal” then.
“It’s to pay homage to the place where I come from,” Servania told a small group of sportswriters during a recent press briefing when one of them asked why he chose the name.
The 22-year-old Servania was born and raised in sugar-producing Bacolod.
This time, he and a townmate, King Arthur Villanueva are being featured in a doubleheader at Solaire Resort and Casino on March l.
Servania will clash with former WBA world super flyweight champion Alexander “El Explosivo” Muñoz of Venezuela who holds a record of 36 wins (28 knockouts) and five losses.
Meanwhile, promoters are still searching for an opponent for Villanueva to replace Juan Hernandez of Mexico who was injured in a motorcycle accident and had to beg off.
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According to ALA vice president Dennis Canete, Servania has accomplished much in the last two years.
Servania, he said, was undefeated in 23 fights and was named “WBO Best Boxer of the Year” for 2013.
He is the reigning WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight champion, the WBO Asia-Pacific champion in the same division and also WBC International Silver super bantamweight champion.
Ranked No. 3 in the WBO, he has been featured in “The New Faces” portion of the October 2013 issue of Ring Magazine.
“Even Top Rank promoter Bob Arum speaks very highly of Genesis, “said Canete.
ALA head Michael Aldeguer believes the March l fight should be a career-defining fight for Servania.
He said Muñoz is a former world champion who has fought the best in his division. This fight should answer questions about Servania.
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Currently, there are more than 40 boxers in the Cebu-based ALA stable, both accomplished and promising.
The sport of boxing is both a passion and an advocacy for patriarch Tony Aldeguer and son Michael, who hopes to actively contribute into making boxing as popular in Metro Manila as it is in Visayas and Mindanao.
ALA Promotions now has an office in Tomas Morato Ave. in Quezon City, near ABS-CBN, the television network that features ALA boxers and bouts in the boxing program “Pinoy Pride.”