Interview with Promoter Alan Tremblay

by The Boxing Bulletin on Nov 29, 2009 4:00 PM EST in Interviews Comment 0 comments

Photo © Ivan Montiel - Promoter Alan Tremblay with Alejandro Hernandez and Marvin Sonsona.

Ivan Montiel had a chance to chat this week with promoter Alan Tremblay, the president of Orion Sports Management.

Ivan Montiel: Thanks Alan for talking with The Boxing Bulletin. Over the last few years, you have been building boxing back up in Ontario with the Rumble at Rama series. Can you tell us a bit about the recent progress of the shows?

AT: Yes, we’ve been lucky with some very good fights, and have had lots of new talent and new fans coming in with the Filipino group. I am expecting the same with Greg Kielsa and the Polish community. We will also continue to bring Felix Mercedes along, just as we did in Western New York with "Baby" Joe Mesi. With Mesi, we had a huge star who used to pack the stadium and to go back to that, we need a new star. We'll build Mercedes up here and eventually we will see Americans make their way across the border as Felix progresses.

IM: I like Mercedes' style, and he'll be exciting to watch as he continues to progress.

AT: You will see a lot of Mercedes. He will be pretty much on all of our shows. We have to continue building him, but Felix is on his way. For his next fight, he will be fighting a six rounder.

IM: In regards to Marvin Sonsona versus Alejandro Hernandez, how would you classify the decision?

AT: I thought it was very fair. Sampson Lewkowicz and I were partners in this main event as you know. I remember Sampson leaning over to me asking,“how do you have it?” I responded “going into the final round I have it even.”

It was a close fight, and I thought the judges were fair - there aren't too many jurisdictions where Hernandez would have got a fair decision like that. You can make an argument for either fighter, therefore I think a draw is a fair result. It’s not what we wanted for Sonsona, but I thought it was the correct result.

IM: I had it a draw watching live, and after watching the fight for the second time, I once again came with a draw.

AT: I have always said, whenever you can make a case either way, the best decision is a draw.

IM: Since bringing in Sonsona has being a success, are there plans to go that route again and bring more foreign talent for the future shows at Rama?

AT: Having tapped into the Filipino market, I am going to be reluctant to let it go. That’s why I brought Ciso Morales in. In the end you probably could have questioned the decision in his fight, but Morales fought a good courageous hard fight.

I don’t think Morales belongs in the bantamweight division where they had him. He’s going to have to fight at a lower weight class if he's going to progress, but we will see how things go.

We've got fighters from all over the world. We’ve had fighters from England, Argentina, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, you name it! We have put an international flavour on fights, and I think that’s part of the sparkle of it because the fighters come with their country pride in them. The fights are always televised to where the fighters are from,and with that being said the fighters tend to put their hearts on the line. They tend to do a little more because they know their fans are watching back home. The show will continue!

IM: Again with Sonsona - his team seemed very happy with Marvin’s experience over here. It was mentioned at the post-fight press conference that the plan is to have Sonsona fight in Manila next…when do you anticipate having Sonsona fight back at Casino Rama?

AT: Well I am just working on my fight schedule now. March 27 is mynext date. As far as Sonsona goes, we have to get him back in the Philippines, as it only makes sense to do so. Hopefully Steve Molitor will fight for the title in March - at least that’s what we plan for now. If not a title fight, Molitor will fight a top rated opponent. Marvin Sonsona will probably be back next year in July, but at this point in time, Sonsona will be fighting in the Philippines a couple of times, and then we will go from there. I'll keep you posted.

IM: Speaking of Molitor, you mentioned there could be a title fight against Takalani Ndlovu for March. Now what happens if that fight does not happen for one reason or another, such as if Celestino Caballero does not want to move up in weight?

AT: Well it’s not the case of Caballero not wanting to move up - it’s just that no fighter wants to fight him. It’s pretty hard to move up when nobody wants to fight you. You have to have a place to go. I think eventually Caballero will move up in weight, but if not, as I mentioned earlier on, Molitor will fight a top rated opponent. He will fight someone in the top ten. I think Caballero will move up, it just takes a lot of negotiation. It’s just very frustrating when a fighter has two belts and nobody wants to fight him.

IM: It looks like even Juan Manuel Lopez doesn’t want to fight Caballero.

AT: Well neither fighter might be able to make 122, therefore if both Lopez and Caballero are going to fight each other, it’s going to be at126, but then again what will they be fighting for? After Lopez' last fight, a fight he almost lost, he just wants nothing to do with Caballero. Caballero wants Lopez but Juanma’s people won’t allow it. It’s a good move by them, a smart one (laughing).

IM: Which fighters do you plan on putting back on the next Rumble at Rama?

AT: Greg Kielsa will be back on the next show, and we are presently trying to get Greg another fight. He should be back along with Molitor. We will probably have another Filipino fighter on the under-card, to keep that market alive and of course we will have Felix Mecerdes. Justin Fountain will be stepping up in competition, and we might just introduce one or two more fighters as well. It will be a great card.

IM: Sounds good. It's exciting what you've got happening at Rama these days.

AT: Thank you Ivan. You know, if you look back, I can tell you that we would have got here a little sooner. I was ill, therefore I had to cutback for 2-3 years, but now things are going very well. We never take that for granted, and we try to keep improving.

IM: Alan, thanks for talking with The Boxing Bulletin, and I'm looking forward to the next Rumble at Rama.

AT: Thanks Ivan, it’s a pleasure talking with you as always.

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