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.”
* * *
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.
* * *
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.