Cardona family requests privacy

PRO CAGER Macmac   Cardona   had  already  been pronounced  out  of danger  when   we   received   a text  message    from    NLEX   team   manager   Ronald   Dulatre   on Sunday   night.

Dulatre   was   urging   the   public “  to  allow  Macmac  and  his  family   some   privacy  at  this   difficult   time…    We  are  providing   whatever   assistance   he needs   from  us   during  this   time.”

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Cardona  was  taken   to  the hospital  last Saturday   after  he  took an overdose  of  various  pills.  It  could  have   been fatal.

He  took   the   pills   after    a reported violent    squabble   with   his   wife,  with   whom   he  is   separated.

NLEX  owner  Manny V.  Pangilinan,  who   has  the  kindest   of  hearts,  has   given   instructions   to extend   to   the   cager   all  the  necessary   help   he   needs.

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ALA International head  Michael  Aldeguer had  an intimate   sendoff   for  WBO light flyweight  champion   Donnie  “Ahas”   Nietes,   who    left   for  Los  Angeles   Saturday  night   to prepare    for   his  fight  with   former    world   champion  Edgar   Sosa   of   Mexico   on   Sept.   24   at  StubHub    Center   in  Carson   City, California.

The  longest-reigning Filipino world  champion   will   not  be   defending    his title    against Sosa,  but   will   be   training   for     the  match   which   he  needs    to win   before  he   can  climb   to    a higher    weight   division   and    face      Juan  Francisco  Estrada,  WBO/WBA flyweight   champion,  next year.

Nietes   was accompanied by  ALA  coach   Edmond     Villamor   and  boxers  Mark  Magsayo   and  “King”  Arthur   Villanueva

Sosa  has  a record of  52  wins (30 knockouts)  and nine losses.

“Hindi ako  puwedeng  mag-kumpiyansa dahil dati siyang world champion (I can’t   afford  to  be    complacent   because   Sosa   is   a  former   world   champion),”  Nietes    told   scribes   who   were    at   the    sendoff.

Meanwhile,  Estrada has been   given   the   go-signal     to   return  to   the   gym    for  training   after  an  11-month   layoff   due  to     a sprained   right   hand.   He  will   be  able  to   fight   again   October   or November

Some   months   back,    the  WBA   ordered    a mandatory    fight   for   Estrada   against   Japanese  contender  Kazuto Ioka,  a former    world   title   holder.

In   the  event Estrada  wins,  he plans   to   ask    the   WBA   for   a  big   fight   against   Nietes  or  Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.