BANAL?S OPPONENT TO TRAIN IN U.S.
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 18 Jun 2008
Rafael Concepcion.
The Panamanian opponent of AJ ?Bazooka? Banal for the World Boxing Association super flyweight title, Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion, will leave his hometown of Panama City to head to New York this weekend.
Fight Beat reported that Concepcion will join renowned trainers Hector Roca and Pedro Romero to resume training at the world famous boxing institution , Gleason?s gym in Brooklyn.
Concepcion is managed by Optimum Sports Agency whose Damon de Berry said ?Rafael will surprise a lot of people on July 26. We are going into their country and fighting their champion, but we are also going to come away with the win.?
Concepcion has dreamt of becoming a world champion since he was a child but his dream may well be turned into a nightmare against the hard-hitting southpaw AJ ?Bazooka? Banal who continues to train diligently at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu owned by respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer.
Youthful Michael Aldeguer who has quietly assumed the mantle of his father Tony told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Banal was doing ?very, very well? and was sparring eight rounds with peomising Weng Haya and Bon Jovi ?who comes right at you.?
Aldeguer said Banal?s weight was ?very controlled? and was not at 122 pounds. He said Banal will step up sparring next week and will go ten rounds and later possibly twelve for the next two weeks.
The Banal-Concepcion world title fight will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN ?live? from the Cebu City Coliseum.
Panama has two world champions at present, Anselmo Moreno and Celestino Caballero while the Philippines has four world titles held by ring idol Manny Pacquiao, Gerry Penalosa, Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes.
Panama is best remembered for its Hall-of-Famer, Roberto ?Hands of Stone? Duran.
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