MAYOR LIM TO HOST BANAL, AMONSOT COMEBACK FIGHTS IN BOHOL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Jan 2009
Popular Tagbilaran City Mayor and passionate boxing fan Dan Neri Lim will host the comeback fights of two promising fighters from the province of Bohol ? AJ ?Bazooka? Banal and Czar Amonsot ? at the Island City Mall car park on January 31.
Mayor Lim is best remembered for teaming up with the famed ALA Gym to stage the WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight title defense of Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista against Tanzania?s Oboto Ameme that drew over 25,000 fans at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City on November 19, 2005.
Amonsot won the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title with a smashing 8th round knockout victory over tough Indonesian Victor Mausul while Banal won a six round unanimous decision in a rematch with Sonny Saguing in only Banal?s third fight as a pro.
To Mayor Lim the return of Banal (17-1-1, 14 KO?s) and Amonsot (18-3-1, 10 KO?s) could be an even bigger attraction because ?both fighters are talented and I am a believer of their potential. They deserve nothing less.?
Banal who suffered a stunning 10th round knockout in a WBA Interim title fight against Panama?s Rafael Concepcion at the jam-packed Cebu Coliseum when he was ahead on the scorecards of all three judges is determined to redeem himself from that July 26 setback.
The talented 20 year old southpaw faces dangerous Indonesian super flyweight champion Nouldi Manakane who has a record of 8 knockouts in 17 wins with 7 losses and 1 draw. Manakane is coming off a 7th round TKO over Muhadin Crusher last December 8.
Besides Banal, all eyes will be focused on Amonsot who has been cleared by a top neurosurgeon, Dr. Almario G. Jabson to resume boxing after an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging? conducted at the Cebu Doctors? University Hospital showed absolutely no sign of the spec of blood detected outside his brain following a bloody brawl in a WBO Interim lightweight title fight against Australia?s Michael Katsidis on July 21, 2007 in Las Vegas.
The hard-hitting southpaw who has been anxiously looking forward to a return to the ring takes on Indonesia?s No. 2 lightweight contender Zoel Fidal.
Youthful Michael Aldeguer who has assumed the mantle of ALA Promotions president from his respected father, boxing patron Tony Aldeguer who stays on as chairman conceded that he is taking ?a big risk? in pitting Banal against Manakene who has, in the past, dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to WBO Asia Pacific and world No.1 ranked Promuansak Posuwan of Thailand on September 3, 2007 and suffered a second round KO at the hands of Hussein Hussein of Australia when Hussein Hussein was at his prime on September 22, 2006.
As far as Aldeguer is concerned Banal ?has to be tested to see if he really has what it takes to make a comeback and to find out if he is potentially a future world champion. Manakane is the perfect test.?
Top photo: Tagbilaran mayor Dan Neri Lim (L) poses with Czar Amonsot during a Las Vegas fight of Amonsot in 2007.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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