AJ BANAL: FASTRACK TO CENTER STAGE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 Jun 2008
William Shakespeare wrote: ?It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.?
Boxers know that their destiny is not in the stars but in their fists. AJ Banal, (W0-17 (KO 14) L?O D?1) a southpaw from the tough streets of Ermita, Cebu has a date with destiny.
His career didn't exactly start on a high note, a 2 round round technical draw over Sonny Saguing last June 2005 in Mandaue City in the undercard of the Rey Bautista vs. Gilberto Bolanos tussle. He beat the same Saguing five months later via six round unanimous decision.
He was the typical curtain raiser, until his victories over erstwhile unbeaten Sing Carryboy of Thailand and Ali Rochmad of Indonesia in Tagbilaran City made the very choosy Filipino boxing fans take notice. Golden Boy promotions took notice and he landed fights in the U.S. against Juan Alberto Rosas and Juan Cardenas. In his last fight, he knocked out another previously undefeated boxer, Caril Herrera of Uruguay in four rounds.
More fans took notice and Banal?s fights became a favorite youtube staple. But is it too soon for a title shot? Banal is only nineteen years old and is a three year pro. He will be facing Panama's Rafael Concepcion (10W - 2L - 1D 6 KO) for the vacant WBA superflyweight title.
Concepcion's record on boxrec shows the usual no name suspects with a combined record of 62 W - 31 L - 3 D. He has never fought outside Panama. Banal will have the homecourt advantage in Cebu City on July 26.
On paper, it looks like the ALA gym will once again present the Philippines with another world title belt.
Comparing Banal to another Cebu fighter, Malcolm Tunacao, who was only a two year pro and had only had ten pro fights going into his WBC world flyweight title winning performance against Medgoen Singsurat eight years ago. Medgoen will always be remembered for dethroning a dehydrated Manny Pacquiao. Tunacao lost in his second title defence. Pacquiao was a three year pro, less than two weeks shy of his twentieth birthday, when he won his first world title. He didn?t have a long reign either but he has more than made up for it for the past ten years.
Getting there fast is one thing, staying on top for a long time is different story. But as Winston Churchill once said: ?It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.?
The Bazooka will handle his first link in the chain this July.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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