Banal seeks redemption tonight

CEBU, Philippines - Bruised and wounded in his previous ring appearance before Cebuano fans, the resurgent ALA Stable stalwart AJ “Bazooka” Banal (18-1-1, 15KOs) seeks no less than redemption when he battles African ‘Golden Boy’ Mbawana Matumla (18-3-1, 10KOs) of Tanzania in the main event of tonight’s “Pagsubok” card at the Cebu Coliseum.

The 20-year-old Banal has not fought for almost a year in Cebu since suffering a devastating 10th round knockout loss to Panamian Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in their WBA interim super flyweight championship on July 27 last year at the Coliseum.

Banal somehow lessened the sting of that humiliating debacle with a smashing fourth round stoppage of Indonesian Nouldy Manakane during his ring return last January 31 at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City.

Ready to make amends armed with the ardent desire of regaining the adoration of his Cebuano disciples, Banal requested that his next fight be staged at the very site where he tasted for the first time the bitterness of defeat.

“I have no other thing in mind than to put an impressive show [against Matumla]. It is my fervent desire to bring back the confidence of my fans in me. I want to show to them that I am still the same AJ Banal they admire and aspire to become a world champion someday,” said Banal.

Not only that he needs to beat Matumla, Banal must make an impression to prove that he is worthy of a slot in the undercard of the grand July 18 showdown between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.

“It is one thing that really motivates me to win over Matumla. To fight in the undercard of Mayweather-Marquez is a golden opportunity and I won’t let it slip away from me,” said Banal.

In his pursuit to climb back on the big stage, Banal without doubt faces a tall order as he battles Matumla, a former world champion who has fought the best in his division and is credited for heralding the golden era of Tanzanian boxing.

And if there’s something Matumla has to brag about that may chill Banal to the bones, it’s none other than his monumental victories over two sturdy Filipino warriors - Eric Barcelona for the IBO super flyweight title and Joel Avila for the WBA Intercontinental 115-pound crown. The Tanzanian visitor also clashed, albeit for a losing cause, with the power-hitting WBO Asia-Pacific jr bantamweight titlist Pramuansak Posuwan of Thailand.

In the explosive supporting bouts of the slambang show presented by ALA Promotions in association with giant TV network ABS-CBN, former WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight king Czar Amonsot and reigning WBO Youth lightweight champion Jason Pagara are all set to dazzle their supporters with their jack-hammer punches.

Amonsot (19-3-1, 11KOs) will keep his hands busy against Kenyan jr lightweight title-holder Morsis Chule (11-6-2, 8KOs), while Pagara faces an acid test against current Indonesian welterweight ruler Hero Katili.

The rest of the exciting card pits Jun Intor of Mabinay, Negros Oriental vs. Leonard Guardiano of Bacolod City, Marjohn Macahilig of Kalibo, Aklan vs. Francis Lee Cutanda of the Tagbilaran-based Harada Stable, Rocky Amonsot of Tagbilaran vs. Evelino Valleser of Ubay, Bohol’s Jimdomar Stable, and Reynaldo Boctot of Cebu City, who will make his pro debut against Samuel Galinato of Jagna, Bohol’s Elaba Stable.

Tickets are reasonably priced at P50 for general admission, P150 for upper box, P300 for lower box, P500 for ringside, P1,500 for VIP 1st row, P1, 250 for VIP 2nd row, and P1,000 for VIP 3rd row. Tickets are available at ALA Promotions office (032-2364611), ALA Gym-BTC (032-4162011), Island Souvenir boutique-Ayala (032-2312581), USA Sports-Ayala (032-2321854), and Bisaya Ispisyal Boutique (032-2326888). – THE FREEMAN