ALA Boys Impressive in Open Workout at SM Cebu
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 May 2009
ALA boys AJ "Bazooka" Banal, Czar Amonsot, Jason Pagara and Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas had an open workout and sparring session at the SM Cebu City Mall atrium Saturday afternoon to promote their upcoming fight card entitled "Tuloy ang Pagsubok" which will be held on May 16 at the Cebu Coliseum.
The southpaw Banal will be making his second appearance at bantamweight. He showered his sparring partner Eman Abanza with lightning fast combinations. Abanza was even dazed on a few occasions and was on the verge of falling down in the two round session. Last January Banal knocked out Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia in 4 rounds in his first fight since that tragic loss to Panama?s Rafael Concepcion in July 2008 for the WBA interim superflyweight title.
Banal?s opponent next Saturday, Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania, 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 has never fought an African boxer before. He has beaten Koreans, Indonesians and Mexicans in his interrupted three pro year career. Czar was sidelined for one year and six months after his ring war with Michael Katsidis but won last January in his comeback fight by fifth round KO over Zoel Fidal of Indonesia by 5th round KO. Chule (11W-6L-2D, 8KO?s) is a Kenyan superfeatherweight champion and a former East and Central African champion.
Amonsot sparred with the ALA gym?s young star Jason Pagara for two rounds. Both fighters looked sharp and ready to rumble. Pagara 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.
Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas sparred for two rounds against Jun Entor. Canillas won by 5th round TKO over Robert Awetin last November in Mandaue. He will be facing Reman Salim in the undercard. Amonsot and Banal proceeded to hit the pads with trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor.
Lucky fans who witnessed the work out also got free tickets.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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