AFTER SPARRING WITH 'BON JOVI,' BANAL READY TO ROCK 'N ROLL!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Jul 2008
With the public getting a glimpse of AJ 'Bazooka' Banal's firepower yesterday at the ALA-BTC, expect the word to spread like wildfire that the son of Cebu City is ready to take on Panamanian Rafael Concepcion on Saturday, July 26, at the New Cebu Coliseum.
The 19-year-old Banal exchanged punches yesterday with Hilario 'Bon Jovi' Canillas, the phenom from Toledo City who fights about exactly the same way as Concepcion.
In fact, Canillas is so Concepcion that handlers of Banal have tabbed him as the chief sparmate to the ALA fighter during those close to 200 rounds of sparring that Banal has had for this upcoming fight.
"Mora jud og inawayan ni Concepcion. Si 'Bon Jovi' mao jud iya style, so gikuha sya ni Sir ALA to spar with Banal," says Edmund Villamor, who trains Banal.
THE 'DO
Apart from the very well-chiseled physique, nimble footwork and airtight defense that has become the Banal patent, one glaring sign that the Ermita-raised fighter is about to go to battle is when he changes his hairstyle.
"Basta magpa upaw na gani ko, mao na jud na sir. Buot pasabot ready nako moadto sa gyera," (When i start sporting very short hair, that's it sir. That means I'm ready to go to war), Banal would tell Philboxing.com and DYHP's 'PINOY BOXING' in an exclusive interview the other day at the ALA Gym.
Banal would echo that during his interview over DYHP's 'Pinoy Boxing' last Sunday, where he reiterated that he is now cowed by what look's like a muscular Concepcion.
"Basta ang akoa, sakto ko sa training. Og gibuhat nako tanan sa gym nga angay buhaton," (As far as i know, i've done my part in training. I've done everything necessary in the gym), Banal stated.
"LABAN NA BANAL" is presented to us by ALA Promotions, ABS-CBN and Golden Boy Promotions and Cebu City Government. Studio 23 will air the fights starting at 8PM on July 26, while ABS-CBN airs it the following morning, Sunday, starting 930AM.
Gates open at 4PM on fight day, while the first bout takes place at exactly 6PM. Parking will not be a problem at the Cebu Coliseum area as police and Citom personnel will allow parking around the vicinity.
The New Cebu Coliseum will also be equipped with special air coolers during the fight to ensure that fans will watch the bouts as comfortably as possible.
Top photo: Banal (L) connects with a right to the head of 'Bon Jovi' Canillas during yesterday's sparring at the ALA Gym in Banilad, Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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