BANAL VOWS TO DESTROY CONCEPCION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Jul 2008
Peeved by the boasts of Panama?s Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion that he would knock him out and win the WBA interim super flyweight championship at the Cebu Coliseum on Saturday, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal vowed ?to do everything to destroy him.?
The full complement of fighters featured in the three title fights were present at a pre-fight news conference at the Waterfront Hotel along with Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez, international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, WBO Asia Pacific president Leon Panoncillo and youthful Michael Aldeguer who has assumed the mantle of ALA Gym?s boxing operations from his illustrious father Tony Aldeguer.
Aside from the main event fight fans will be treated to two potentially explosive bouts on the undercard where talented Milan Melindo clashes with Panama?s Carlos Melo for the WBA Intercontinental minimum weight title and Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo faces Indonesia?s Rivo Ringkung for theWBO Oriental bantamweight crown.
Optimum Sports Agency CEO Damon De Berry who handles Concepcion said the 26 year old Panamanian ?didn?t leave his wife (Ellen) and baby daughter (Allison) behind and travel all the way to Cebu to lose. Rafael is here to win.?
Concepcion (10-2, 6 KO?s) looking relaxed, trim and strong said he will ?wait for the right opportunity to go for a knockout.? He said he had trained hard at Gleason?s Gym in Brooklyn, New York and had overcome the effects of a long flight plus delays and quickly acclimatized himself. ?No problems at all? said Concepcion.
For his part the undefeated Banal (17-0-1, 14 KO?s) said initially ?I will do my talking in the ring? but after being provoked by the promise of a knockout by Concepcion the southpaw changed his attitude saying he had ?studied his (Concepcion?s) style very well. He is strong but so am I and I am smarter and more skilled.?
Young boxing fan Carlos Costa who flies around the world to watch big fights pointed out that Panama has a proud record of victories over Filipinos in title fights and nobody should underestimate the courage and fighting heart of Concepcion.
The lone female boxer seeing action on Saturday, super bantamweight Brenda Shaylor (3-0) said she had trained well for her bout with former amateur standout Renalyn Consejo Jacob of Bacolod City and was looking forward to a good fight and win that would help maintain her unbeaten record. Shaylor is trained by former Cebu resident Tony Martin.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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