SANDUGO SHOWDOWN: AJ Banal vs. Big Yoo
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Jun 2010
AJ ?Bazooka? Banal is set to unload his big guns on Big Yoo of South Korea this July 17 at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. This fight is for the WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight title. ALA Promotions officially announced the match-up in a press conference held Thursday noon at the Cebu Sports Club.
Banal has been training in the ALA gym for the past four months and has sparred a total of 170 rounds for this bout. The 21 year old southpaw from Ermita,Cebu City has won four straight fights, three by knockout, since losing to Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the WBA interim superflyweight title two years ago.
Banal (21W-1L-1D, 17 KO's) said he is ready to face Yoo (16W-2L, 11KO's) and that he has learned a lot since the Concepcion loss. ?Before, I would go for a knockout right away. It was the reason why I ran out of gas. I have learned to pace myself in every round. My confidence is back and people will see a new AJ Banal.? Banal is currently among the top three contenders in the WBO.
ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer said that AJ is now more calculated with his offense and has learned to maximize his strength. ?Banal is a talented fighter, the total package. He has learned from that loss. We will observe his progress. You can't substitute experience. He is being lined up against former champ Luis Perez this August. But he cannot take Yoo for granted. Koreans come to fight. Depending on AJ's performance, he may go for the world title next year. We have also hired an accredited conditioning coach. ?
Banal said that he would like to face Rafael Concepcion again. He also dreams of fighting world champs like Yohnny Perez and Fernando Montiel.
Trainer Edmund Villamor said that they have adjusted Banal's pacing and make him pick his sopts so he will not burn himself out in the later rounds.
Yoo was born in Japan but currently resides in Seoul, South Korea. He has never been knocked out. He is a former WBO interim Asia-Pacific superflyweight titlist and former Korean superflyweight champ. He is ranked number 7 by the OPBF. In his last fight, he beat Filipino BJ Dolorosa by 5th round TKO.
Jason Pagara will see action in the undercard and will face Kim Young Bin of South Korea in the undercard. Last month, Pagara scored an impressive second round knockout win over Romeo Jakosalem at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu in the undercard of the Michael Domingo vs Luis Melendez fight. Pagara turned 18 years old and hopes to fight in the U.S. He dreams of fighting Juan Manuel Marquez someday.
Other boxers set to fight in Bohol include James Bacon of the ALA Gym who will face Jovie Merca of Butuan City; Jefferson Reodeque vs Rocky Bacor, Jomar Cordinillo vs Sarry Canonigo, Wilbeth Lobernais vs Jolito Catubay and Ricky Sismundo against a still to be named opponent.
This fight card is billed as ?SANDUGO-Labanan ng mga Kampeon?. It is staged in coordination with the Sandugo Foundation and the City Government of Tagbilaran. TV coverage is courtesy of ABS-CBN.
ALA Promotions also announced their plans of staging a fight in Toledo City, Cebu this July 13 headlined by hometown boy Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas. Also set to see action is the Clown Prince of Cebu boxing, Jojo ?Flash? Intor.
Top photo: AJ Banal looks confident during the press conference today announcing his upcoming fight against Big Yoo of Korea on July 17 in Bohol.
L-R: Trainer Edmund Villamor, AJ Banal and ALA President Michael Aldeguer.
L-R: Villamor, Banal, ALA President Michael Aldeguer, Jason Pagara and ALA Vice-President Dennis Canete.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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