PINOY PRIDE XVII: ?BAZOOKA? BANAL TARGETS WBO WORLD TITLE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Jul 2012
CEBU CITY ? ALA Promotions finally made the long awaited official announcement Wednesday noon. WBO number one contender AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (27W-1L-1D, 20 KO?s) will get his shot at the vacant WBO world bantamweight title on home soil against the number two contender Pungluang Sor Singyu (42W-1L, 27KOs) of Thailand on October 20 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The announcement was made before members of the Cebu media in a press conference held at the City Sports Club. The 23 year old Banal, who is also the reigning WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight champion, answered questions not just about his preparation, but was also asked to re-examine that fateful night on July 26 when he collapsed in the 10th round after initially dominating Rafael Concepcion of Panama.
His only career loss happened in his hometown of Cebu City. It has haunted him and sportswriters always sneak in questions about his stamina in every press conference he attended since.
?I am now more experienced now.? Banal said, ?I learned from my mistakes. I was very tense going into that fight. I just kept on pressuring him. Now I have learned to pace myself. I will not get too excited.?
?My advantage against Pungluang is my power, my experience and I already know how to beat an opponent even if I don?t knock him out.?
Last October 8, 2011, Banal went the full twelve rounds and handed Mexican Mario Briones his first career loss in Bacolod City. Four days ago, in Dumaguete City, Banal won by unanimous decision against Ruben Manakane of Indonesia.
Did he ease up on Manakane after knocking him down twice?
?No, I wanted to knock him out.? Banal replied, ?But he was always on the defensive. It?s very difficult to knockout someone who doesn?t want to fight.?
Banal still won all the rounds and had to wait for a few days until ALA Promotions Pres. and CEO Michael Aldeguer sealed the deal for his world title shot.
?This was a very difficult and long negotiation which started last February.? Aldeguer said. He talked about not just this title fight but also their five year plan for staging big fights here in the Philippines.
?We can do what Mexico has done.? Aldeguer said.
Trainer Edmund Villamor believes Banal can win the title this time. ?We have seen Pungluang?s fight against Marvin Tampus. He is a good boxer puncher. But Banal is now mature, more disciplined. We have been doing conditioning exercises, sprints and road work in Kabangcalan. AJ has improved on his pacing.?
Pungluang has beaten 14 Filipino boxers but Banal believes he will end that streak. He will continue his training away from any distractions in the island of Bohol.
On August 27, Pungluang Sor Singyu and his team will visit the Philippines for a promotional event in Manila at the fight venue. The will also visit the country?s boxing capital of Cebu the next day and meet the sports media. Team Sor Singyu will return to Thailand on September 2 and are scheduled to return to the Philippines one week before the fight.
Photo: AJ Banal poses in front of a giant tarpaulin announcing his upcoming title fight against Pungluang Sor Singyu on October 20, 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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