BOOM BOOM BAUTISTA, BAZOOKA BANAL TO FIGHT IN VIRGINIA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 25 May 2010
Former world super bantamweight title challenger Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista and world-rated bantamweight AJ ?Bazooka? Banal will be featured in a fight card at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia on June 26 as part of ALA Promotions aggressive global campaign.
Following its recent successful fight card in Dubai in which Bautista and WBO No.1 minimum weight Milan Melindo put on an impressive performance, ALA Promotions signed up former world WBC and WBA minimum weight champion Katsunari Takayama as part of an expansion program that will recruit other foreign and local boxers to fight under the famed ALA Promotions banner.
At the Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino last Sunday, former prospect Jimrex Jaca saw action on an ALA fight card staged in partnership with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN and scored a 4th round TKO over rugged Kenyan James Kimori in a exciting brawl and said he was ready to move up and redeem his career after a slump. Jaca belonged to the stable of Rex ?Wakee? Salud.
Although the opponents of Bautista and Banal are not likely to instill fear in the hearts of the two Filipinos the fights are intended to showcase their talents in an area of the US where there is a large Filipino community.
Bautista takes on Leivi Brea of the Dominican Republic who fights out of New Jersey and has a record of 18-8-3 with 10 knockouts although boxrec.com records indicate Brea last fought in 2008 winning by a 1st round TKO over Pedro Pimentel (0-5) on December 19, 2008 and a 4th round TKO over Dionisio Rodriguez (0-16) on November 15, 2008.
However, Brea did face tough opponents including former WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez who won by a 1st round TKO on August 1, 2008 and Gary Starks Jr (21-2, 8 KO?s) to whom Brea lost by a six round unanimous decision on October 22, 2008 despite being dropped in rounds 3 and 6. Brea also battled reigning WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez in a bantamweight bout on March 3, 3007 losing by a 2nd round TKO in a scheduled ten round bout indicating that Brea was not afraid to face the big names in his division.
The 23 year old Bautista who has moved up to featherweight is coming off back-to-back victories after a disappointing eight round unanimous decision loss to Heriberto Ruiz in a bout he was widely expected to win. It was later discovered that Bautista had a badly damaged wrist that needed surgery and the grafting of a piece of bone taken from his hip.
Bautista who was mobbed by Filipinos in Dubai didn?t disappoint his fans by scoring a 6th round knockout in a tough battle with Thailand?s Saichon Sotompitak (10-1, 5 KO?s) on April 23, 2010. Bautista earlier scored a 7th round TKO over strong and durable Marangin Marbun of Indonesia to win the WBC International featherweight interim title on October 16, 2009.
21 year old bantamweight Banal (21-1-1, 17 KO?s) who is ranked No. 3 by the WBA and the WBO, No. 4 by the IBF and No. 12 by the WBC clashes with Andre Wilson (11-4-1, 9 KO?s) of Missouri in a battle of southpaws. Wilson has lost his last three fights while Banal has won four in a row after his stunning 10th round KO loss to Rafael Concepcion of Panama in a WBA super flyweight interim title fight at the Cebu Coliseum on July 26, 2008 when Banal who was leading on the scorecards of all three judges suddenly withered and lost what looked like a won fight.
Since then he has beaten Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia by a 4th round KO, African Golden Boy Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania (19-3, 10 KO?s) by a 2nd round knockout and Mexico?s Jose Angel Beranza by a ten round unanimous decision to put his title aspirations back on track.
Banal?s opponent, 27 year old super bantamweight Andre Wilson dropped an eight round split decision to undefeated Teon Kennedy (11-0) on March 6, 2009, lost by a 2nd round TKO to undefeated Chris Avalos (10-0, 10 KO?s) on July 31, 2009 and a 6th round TKO to veteran Leonilo Miranda (30-2, 28 KO?s) last April 10 when referee Lou Moret called a halt at 0:43 of the 6th round after Wilson was dropped twice in the round.
However, in 2008 Wilson had impressive wins over quality opponents scoring a 2nd round TKO over Francisco Rodriguez (11-1, 7 KO?s) on February 15, 2008 and following up with a ten round unanimous decision over Ghana?s Alex Baba (26-14-1, 19 KO?s) to win the US Boxing Council bantamweight title on September 27 that same year.
Top photo: Bautista (L) and Banal prepare for their Virginia stint. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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