Andrew Stein eyes tie-up with Cebuano promoters

Driven by his desire to help Filipino boxers seek greener pastures in the United States, American lawyer and sportsman Andrew M. Stein, president of the US-based promotional outfit Stein Global Sports and Entertainment, expressed his interest to have a business tie-up with Cebuano promoters.

"I came here to find young fighters and help provide them with brighter opportunities in the US," said Stein in a press conference yesterday at the Adriatic room of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel. "I don't want to interfere with the Filipino managers. I'm here as their partner and not a competitor."

In venturing with the Philippine boxing trade, Stein makes it clear to all concerned parties that he will serve as a partner and not a competitor of Filipino promoters he will work with in the future.

Stein said he is looking forward to a possible tie-up with international promoter Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Sports Promotions.

"I hope we could formalize our partnership with Sammy Gello-ani. He's a good person of unblemished integrity and he's the kind you want to work with," said Stein.

Although a high-profile criminal lawyer who has already won several murder cases in Los Angeles, Stein said he's been a boxing fan all his life.

"I've been a boxing fan all my life. I love the sport and I want to produce a world champion. Raising a person from nothing to become a world champion is like raising a child. It's a great feeling," said Stein.

Stein, who is a close friend of Team Pacquiao, said the Filipinos boxers are now marketable in the US that is why he prefers to head-hunt for talents here and eventually open the door for them to a more lucrative career in the US.

"The Filipinos are now marketable in the US. The Filipinos are very loyal to their country. In whatever sport they excel, the Filipinos always have a great sense of national pride. I think there's a lot of reasons why RP boxers thrive in the US," said Stein.

Through the assistance of his RP agents in Yolly and Fred Tuadles, Stein has already bankrolled two boxing promotions in Cebu, with the first one in Carcar three months ago in partnership with Cebuano impresario Rex "Wakee" Salud.

The second was the Sinulog card in cooperation with Gello-ani just last night which Stein personally witnessed at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark.

Asked what he can say about Filipino boxers, Stein replied "they have one of the fastest hands in the world, they've great heart, and they love to fight."

What caught Stein's scrutinizing eyes last Sunday was rising ALA star Robert Allanic. Stein was so awed with Allanic's skills that he wanted to should all the expenses just to bring Allanic to the US and let him train with Freddie Roach for three months at the Wild Card Gym.

"Only two guys out there are quite impressive (during last Sunday's promotion - Robert Allanic and Donnie Nietes. I'd like to pay the bills and bring Robert Allanic to Freddie Roach and train in there for three months," said Stein, who plans to bring in at least three Filipino boxers in the US.

Gello-ani, on the other hand, is open to a possible working relationship with Stein. "That's a very good idea. I'm willing to work with Mr. Stein in the future. Anyway, he's not a competitor. He will just be assisting us in the US," Gello-ani said.