BAZOOKA AIMS AT THE DEMOLITION MAN
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 09 Oct 2010
AJ ?Bazooka? Banal continues his quest for another world title shot this October 30 when he battles former two division IBF world champ Luis ?El Demoledor? Perez of Nicaragua.
The 21 year old Banal is ranked number 3 by the WBO at bantamweight, number 4 by the WBA, number 11 by the WBC and number 3 by the IBF. Since the loss to Panama?s Rafael Concepcion in a WBA interim world superflyweight title fight in 2008, Banal has beaten five straight opponents. In 2009, he knocked out Indonesian Nouldy Manakane in 4 rounds, Tanzanian Mbwana Matumla in two and then scored a hard fought ten round unanimous decision win over Jose Angel Beranza of Mexico. In 2010, he stopped another Mexican, Cecilio Santos in 4 rounds. In his fifth win last July, Banal enthralled 30,000 fans at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Bohol with his knockout performance against Big Yoo of South Korea.
But Banal (22W (18 KO?s) -1L-1D) will have a bigger fight on his hands against Luis Alberto Perez.
The 32 year old Perez turned pro in 1996. He lost to a Filipino,Vernie Torres last September 2000 in Mississippi by 12 round unanimous decision. Perez won the IBF junior bantamweight title in January 4, 2003, beating Felix Machado by 12 round split decision in Washington DC. He beat Machado by unanimous decision in a rematch 11 months later.
He had two other successful defenses including a 12 round split decision win over future champ Dimitry Kirilov in 2006. Perez would win the vacant IBF bantamweight title by 7th round TKO over Genaro Garcia of Mexico in 2007. Perez lost his title two months later to Joseph Agbeko of Ghana by RTD in the 7th round. Agbeko dominated Perez and the ring doctor advised stoppage due to accumulation of punishment. His career went on the downslide after that but in his last fight, Perez (26 W(KO 17) - 4L) stopped countryman Freddy Madrigal in two rounds last May 29.
Perez is tall with a 71 inch reach. His stablemate, former two division WBA world champ Rosendo Alvarez gave him the nickname ?El Demoledor?. The Demolition Man?s strengths include a southpaw rocket jab, toughness, high work rate and relentless offense. His defense and tendency to throw wide punches have been cited as his weak points. When he was still champ, his style drew comparisons to a great Nicaraguan boxer, the late Alexis Arguello ? fundamentally sound and breaks down opponents with a methodical and poised attack.
Both fighters being southpaws makes things more interesting.
Banal's ALA Gym stablemates Mark Jason Melligen,Jason Pagara and Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas will also see action in the first salvo of the Pinoy Pride series at Cebu?s Waterfront Hotel. Melligen, who has been campaigning under Top Rank in the US, returns to Cebu City after two years and will fight Mexico's Bladimir Hernandez. Pagara will take on Thai Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat, while Canillas (14W-3L, 12 KO's) goes up against veteran Ramie Laput (38W-4L, 17 KO's) of Digos, Davao del Sur.
Laput is a former WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight titlist and will give Canillas his first real test. Laput himself is gunning for a career course changing win after losing in Austria last December 2009 to Zsolt Bedak by 7th round knockout.
(Top file photo:AJ Banal)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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