BANAL BATTLES MENACING MEXICAN FOR WBO YOUTH TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 05 Sep 2007
Genaro Camargo.
WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel said he reminds him of a young Hector "Macho" Camacho and is definitely a future world champion. Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach believes he is the hottest prospect in the Philippines right now.
But just how good the 18 year old AJ “Bazooka” Banal is, will be put to an acid test when he clashes with menacing 21 year old Mexican Genaro Camargo for the vacant WBO Youth super flyweight title at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu on September 30 in an unprecedented fight card featuring six title fights.
While the main event is for the vacant WBO minimum weight title with the Philippines top-ranked contender Donnie “Ahas” Nietes battling Thailand’s undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym, the Banal-Camargo bout may well steal the thunder.
Camargo has a record of 14 wins, 2 losses and 8 wins by way of knockouts all of which came within the first three rounds. He also boasts of a first round KO over Manuel Pinzon on July 15, 2006, a first round TKO over Javier Castro on June 29 this year and another first round TKO over Jorge Lopez last July 27. Camargo replaced Mexican champion and Fecombox champion Jovanny Soto who was reportedly not allowed to fight Banal because of a scheduled defense of his crown before September 28.
Soto’s manager informed promoter Sammy Gello-ani that the Mexican Boxing Federation had threatened to “suspend Soto and strip him of his title if he fights in the Philippines.”
Camargo himself was slated to fight undefeated Mexican Carlos Ybanez who has a record of 13-0 with 10 KO’s but decided to forego the fight in order to take on Banal, the hard-hitting southpaw from the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer and to go after his world rating.
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