AKTV plans to host quarterly title fights

CEBU CITY—AKTV is keen on pursuing active participation in boxing promotions.

Vito Lazatin, sports manager of AKTV, told Manila-based sportswriters here Saturday that TV5 sports channel plans to stage monthly fight cards, including quarterly title fights, throughout the country next year.

This early, however, AKTV is among the prime movers in staging televised fights on IBC Channel 13.

Apart from the Marvin Sonsona-Carlos Jacobo showdown held Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City which was aired live, AKTV also covered Froilan Saludar’s conquest of Gabriel Pumar for the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific flyweight title last August in Kawit, Cavite.

According to Lazatin, the fight cards won’t be confined to boxing hotbed Cebu to further promote sports awareness among Filipinos.

While AKTV is working harmoniously with promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Lazatin did not discount the possibility of the premier local sports channel collaborating with other local promoters.

Living up to its commitment to provide quality sports programs through free TV channel, AKTV has also staged select bouts of US-based Filipino world boxing champions Brian Viloria, Nonito Donaire and Ana Julaton.

Of course, AKTV is best known for its coverage of the PBA games. Just recently, AKTV inked a five-year contract to air the United Football League, blazing the trail for the country’s resurgent sport.

In the coming Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in the capital city of Jakarta and Palembang, AKTV and ABS-CBN will split coverage.

There was no PH television coverage during the 2009 SEA Games held in Vientiane, Laos.