LAINEZ PREDICTS KO WINS BY BAUTISTA, BANAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Apr 2007
Well known TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez has predicted that emerging ring sensations Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ "Bazooka" Banal will win by knockouts on the undercard of the blockbuster "The World Awaits" fight card featuring Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 5.
In a telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Lainez, a long time and respected boxing man said he studied the records of the opponents of both Bautista, the undefeated reigning WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight champion who is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and the promising Banal who is also undefeated, and felt both young fighters from the famed ALA Gym should win by KO "in five rounds or less." Lainez also praised Golden Boy Promotions for what he said was "smart matchmaking."
Bautista who has a record of 22-0 with 17 KO’s faces undefeated 25 year old Argentinean Sergio Medina who boasts of a record of 28-0 with 16 knockouts including two impressive TKO wins over Dario Azuagaza who lost in a tough ten round encounter with former WBC flyweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa in Antipolo in 2005.
Bautista is coming off a third round KO win over Marino Gonzales of Mexico in the classy "Moment of Truth" fight card that drew some 25,000 fans to the Cebu City Sports Complex last February 24.
Banal who scored a sensational first round KO over Thailand’s Komrit Lukkumongmuekol on the same card has a record of 12-0-1 with 10 KO’s and faces hard-hitting Mexican Juan Antonio Rosas, nicknamed "The Monster" who has a record of 25-2 with 22 knockouts. The 22 year old Rosas is coming off a unanimous ten round decision over Sergio Espinoza last March 17.
Rosas won the WBC Latino flyweight title with a majority twelve round decision over Jose Lopez on December 16, 2006 after winning the Mexican title with a win over Valerio Sanchez on October 1, 2005. But perhaps the biggest win of Rosas was a ninth round knockout of Omar Nino who won the WBC flyweight title from Brian Viloria but was stripped of the crown after retaining it in a rematch when he tested positive for a banned substance.
Banal told PhilBoxing’s Dong Secuya that he was not bothered by the fact that he hadn’t seen any fight tapes of Rosas. Banal who together with Bautista trained alongside De La Hoya in Puerto Rico under the watchful eye of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach and outstanding Filipino trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor said he was in great shape and eager to make an impressive US debut. Banal said when he hits Rosas that’ll be it, effectively reinforcing Lainez’ predictions that he will win by knockout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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