BANAL WANTS TO PROVE HIMSELF
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 08 Jul 2013
Former world bantamweight title challenger AJ ?Bazooka? Banal who lost by a 9th round knockout in his quest for the WBO title against Thailand?s Pungluang Sor Singyu at the Mall of Asia on October 20 last year wants to prove himself when he returns to the ring on the undercard of the WBO minimum weight title defense of Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo vs Colombia?s Jorlie Estrada at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino along Manila Bay.
The 24 year old southpaw moves up in weight to face Mexico?s Abraham ?Cholo? Gomez at a catch-weight of 124 pounds and is determined to prove that he still has the ability and the heart to get back into the top rungs of the world rankings where he is currently No. 13 in the WBO bantamweight rankings.
Banal has an impressive record of 28-2-1 with 20 knockouts, 3 losses, while Gomez has a record of 18-7-1 with 9 knockouts.
Gomez is coming off an 8th round TKO loss to Miguel Angel Mendoza in a WBC FECAMBOX super featherweight title bout on October 27 last year after earlier losing by a 5th round knockout to Roberto Ortiz on June 30, 2012.
Mendoza himself lost by a 6th round knockout to Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista in an IBF International featherweight title defense by the No.5 ranked Bautista who was at the peak of his career and stunned Mendoza who had a remarkable unbeaten record of 17 knockouts in 17 wins.
Trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor told the Manila Standard that Banal has trained hard and looked good and is on the way to ?building up his confidence? which may have suffered as a result of losing a fight he was expected to win against Pungluang Sor Singyu.
At the same time the noted trainer, himself a former world title challenger, said they will not underestimate Mendoza even though he is coming off a loss because he is, like all Mexicans, ?a warrior? and Banal is moving up in weight.
Joining Banal on the undercard are promising prospects including OPBF super flyweight champion Arthur Villanueva and Philippines No.1 super bantamweight Albert ?Prince? Pagara who are certain to add excitement to the initial venture at Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino put together by ALA Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN in the 21st edition of the highly successful ?Pinoy Pride? series to be telecast at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday over Channel 2 with a replay on Studio 23 and also telecast over The Filipino Channel.
The No. 6 ranked Jorle Estrada of Colombia who will challenge Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo for the WBO minimum weight title was scheduled to arrive at 10:25 p.m. on Monday while Gomez was set to arrive with Villanueva?s opponent Arturo Badillo at 1:15 p.m. also on Monday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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