AJ Banal?s Unholy Burden
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 May 2009
He belongs to one of the most high profile boxing stables in the country. Their fights are regularly shown on Philippine television. Their names are recognizable even to the casual boxing fans.
The ALA gym?s AJ Banal has a reputation for being an offensive machine. He sells tickets but also carries with him the burden of great expectations. Fans not only expect him to win, but to win in spectacular fashion.
The weight of that burden was evident on that fateful day in July 2008 when Banal capitulated in the tenth round of his WBA interim superflyweight title bout against Panama?s Rafael Concepcion in front of a sell-out Cebu Coliseum crowd.
Since that night questions about his heart and endurance has hounded him during every press conference. Banal has stated that he has learned from his mistakes and he will pace himself and not look for a knockout at the opening bell. It was no surprise that he knocked out Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia last January in Bohol. But the questions -whether in public or in private - will linger.
This coming Saturday May 16, Banal will once again confront his personal demons when he performs inside the Cebu Coliseum. Fans don?t just expect him to beat Tanzanian?s Mbwana Matumla; they expect a knockout. But paradoxically a quick knockout will make the fans whisper as to whether he can truly last the distance in a rough, drag out battle.
During an informal meeting with the press last Monday at the Phat Thursday Bar at the Banilad Town Center, ALA Promotions Pres. Michael Aldeguer said if Banal hurdles Matumla, he could find himself fighting in the undercard of the highly publicized Mayweather vs. Marquez bout this July.
Once again, the eyes of the boxing fans will be on Banal. Our country?s boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has cast a long shadow on every Filipino fighter that steps inside the ring. Boxers and fans alike should learn to accept that Pacquiao is a once in a lifetime anomaly in a country without a decent grassroots scientific sports program.
We will have champions after Pacquiao. Banal will try to be one of them. Banal will have to clear his own path and bear the burden. The only way to silence the whispers and his inner torment will be to have a world title belt strapped around his waist.
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