Credit belongs to winner and still champ
Premiere Cebu sportsman Tony Aldeguer says he’s humbled by an item in this column which cited him for having imported the knockout punch that helped WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes score a sensational stoppage last Saturday.
Aldeguer, famously known as ALA, explains that the credit should go to Nietes, who turned his career around with a fiery KO win over challenger Moises Fuentes of Mexico in the ninth round at Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Here’s Aldeguer’s message sent on Tuesday:
“I sincerely appreciate what you’ve said about me. I’m humbled by your comments. Honestly, the big credit should go to Nietes. He worked very, very hard and went through a killing regimen in order to achieve perfect form.”
* * *
Who prepared Nietes’ regimen, who supervised him?
“The changes came after we connected with our new trainer Nick Curson. Nietes trained under him in the US for one month, then we brought him to Cebu to continue training for another month.”
Aldeguer, swearing Curson did wonders to Nietes, quickly repeats that the big credit belongs to the WBO 108-pound ruler who did great sacrifices to develop endurance and stronger stamina while putting a killer sting to his punches.
* * *
Aldeguer has been requested by the Inquirer to provide a work resumé of Curson.
His office has come up with a reply from Curson which goes thus:
“My credentials are: I’ve been involved in strength training and martial arts for over 19 years.
I’ve studied various strength and conditioning methods under some of the best professional sports trainers in the United States, but my primary focus is on Eastern Bloc training methods.
I’ve trained multiple national champions and Olympians as well as top collegiate and professional athletes.
I’ve studied under a well-known Russian scientist Dr. Igor Lavrov.
I don’t study the same thing as everybody else—or I will be just like everyone.”
* * *
Nothing follows.
Meanwhile, Aldeguer says Curson will be in the Philippines until the end of the month.
“But we will surely bring him back in July,” he says.
Aldeguer has not clarified if Curson will return to further attend to Nietes or help prop up the shaky careers of other ranked fighters in the world-famous ALA Stable.
