THE AFRICANS ARE COMING FOR BANAL AND AMONSOT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2009
CEBU CITY -- AJ Banal will return to the scene of the crime this coming May 16 and face a multi-titled African fighter from Tanzania named Mbwana Matumla. The Cebu Coliseum was the site of AJ?s heartbreaking loss to Panamanian Rafael Concepcion for the WBA interim world superflyweight title.
Banal ran out of gas and succumbed in the 10th round of that fight nine months ago. Since then, he has fought once, winning by 4th round KO over Indonesian Nouldy Manakane last January in Bohol.
Banal wanted this fight to be held at the Cebu Coliseum because he wants to redeem himself in front of his fans. He has been working on his endurance and is learning to be more patient and focused. He sparred in the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach while accompanying Donnie Nietes for his title defense in Mexico. This will be his second appearance at bantamweight.
His opponent, Mbwana Matumla, is known as the African Golden Boy and has a record of 18W-3L-2D with 10KO?s. He has beaten Filipino boxers Eric Barcelona by 12 round decision for the IBO superflyweight title and Joel Avila by 7th round KO for the WBA intercontinental title.
Co-featured in this card is Czar Amonsot, who will be facing another African boxer, Morris Chule of Kenya. Amonsot was sidelined for more than a year after his ring war with Michael Katsidis but won last January in his comeback fight by fifth round KO over Zoel Fidal of Indonesia.
Chule (11W-6L-2D, 8KO?s) is a Kenyan superfeatherweight champion and a former East and Central African champion.
This fight card will also feature the ALA gym?s young prodigy Jason Pagara. He has the distinction of winning WBO and Philippine titles when he was 16 years old. He will be facing Indonesia?s welterweight titlist Hero Katili.
Also included in the fight card is Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas vs. Reman Salim. There will be four prelim bouts including Czar?s younger brother Rocky Amonsot who will face Evelino Valleser.
Fight time is 6 pm and will be aired on ABS-CBN.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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