Fuentes warns AJ Banal to be careful vs Angkota

ALA Boxing Club mainstay Rocky Fuentes cautioned his friend and stablemate AJ "Bazooka" Banal to be extra careful against Angky Angkota in their forthcoming bout as the Indonesian is too dangerous a power-puncher.

Fuentes suffered the most devastating defeat in his budding career by first round knockout at the hands of Angkota on May 7 last year at the RCTI Studio in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Fuentes recounted that on that fateful night, he was about to launch a left hook when he was caught by Angkota's solid right uppercut to the chin.

"He (Angkota) punches so hard that I went blackout after being hit by his right uppercut. For a moment, I had some sort of an amnesia because I forgot that I was fighting at that time," said Fuentes.

Fuentes conceded that Angkota is really a strong puncher and Banal must be forewarned about that.

"Skills wise, Banal is superior. I'm very confident he has what it takes to beat Angkota," said Fuentes. "But the Indonesian can't be taken lightly. Banal must be careful because Angkota is a power-puncher. He must keep his guard all the time and must beware of that so-called lucky punch."

Banal (9-0-1, 8KOs) girds up for the toughest test in his career so far when he collides head-on with Angkota (17-2 11KOs), the reining IPB Pan-Pacific flyweight champion, in the supporting main event of the "War in the Ring" card on October 21 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

In the main attraction, Z "The Dream" Gorres (24-1-1, 12KOs) battles Indonesian champion Sonny Manakane (9-2-1, 4KOs) in what would be his final tuneup his mandatory shot at the WBO super flyweight crown currently held by Mexican Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel.

The 17-year-old Banal will try to prove he's ready for bigtime in the United States where he will be campaigning next year as earlier announced by his handlers.

But Banal must pull first the biggest thorn in his path in Angkota - the Filipino executioner who boasts of victories of several notable Pinoy boxers in the likes of ex-WBA minimumweight champion Joma Gamboa, former PABA light flyweight titlist Marvin Tampus, ALA Boy Donnie Nietes, Isidro Lorona and Sonny Boy Jaro.

"I know the importance of this fight and I will give my all-out best to win," said Banal.

The same goes for Gorres, who must get past Manakane so as not to jeopardize his impending crack at the WBO championship.

"I've trained and prepared hard for this fight. I'm very confident of beating him (Manakane)," said Gorres.

In the other feature of the explosive slugfest bankrolled by SGG Sports Promotions of international promoter Sammy Gello-ani, rising ALA stars Mark Jason Melligen and Milan Melindo will strut their wares for the first time before the discriminating eyes of Cebuano fight fans.

Welterweight prospect Melligen, undefeated in four fights with all his wins by knockout, will take on Ariel Salvaña, while Melindo will swap punches with Ricardo Albia.

The preliminary bouts pit Dennis Juntillano vs. Winnie Bartiquil, Jun Intor vs. Carlo Magale, Wilson Haya vs. Romnick Rapista, Fernando Otik vs. Abner Llanasa, and Gil Melligen vs. Eric Crispino.