Banal ready to dazzle Boholano fans

CEBU, Philippines - The resurgent ALA Boxing Gym star AJ “Bazooka” Banal assured his loyal Boholano fans that he will put up a highly entertaining show of fistic action when he battles former WBO interim super flyweight champion Big Yoo for the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt topbilling the “Sandugo:Labanan ng mga Kampeon” card tomorrow night at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City.

The slambang event, presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports in partnership with the Sandugo Foundation, Inc. and the city government of Tagbilaran under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Dan Neri Lim, will be aired over ABS-CBN at 10:15 am on July 18 and will be replayed on Studio 23 at 10:00 pm.

“Ako ikapasalig nila nga maningkamot gyud ko aning duwaa kay para ni sa akong pamilya ug sa akong mga fans nga hilig og boksing labaw na sa mga Boholano (I promise to give my best in this fight because this is for my family and fans especially the Boholanos),” Banal told The Freeman.

Having seen and studied the fighting stance of Big Yoo, the 21-year-old Banal has nothing but words of praise and respect for the Japanese-born Korean warrior, but he expressed confidence of hurdling this tough obstacle in his path to earn another crack at a world crown.

“Maayo kaayo ang iyang style ug kabalo motan-aw sa iyang kontra. Dili kumpiyansaan kay manukmag gyud (He has a very good style and knows how to anticipate his opponent. He can’t be underestimated because he really loves to box),” said Banal.

“Lig-on sab siya, pero ambot lang kaha kung maigo siya sa akong kinumo. Wala ko kabalo unsay mahitabo basta Ginoo na lang mag-igo ani (He’s also tough but I don’t know if he can’t take my punches. I don’t know what’s going to happen and I leave it all to God,” added Banal.

Pressed if he’s going for an early victory, Banal quickly replied: “Nakat-on na kog leksiyon sa akong mga sayup. Dili ko magdali kay maabot rana kung naay matumba (I’ve learned my lesson well from my past mistakes. I won’t rush anything. If there’s going to be a knockout, it will just come).”

Banal, who sports a 21-1 win-loss record spiked with 17KOs, is coming off a four-fight winning roll since his stunning 10th round KO defeat to Panamian Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in their interim WBA super flyweight title bout on July 26, 2008 at the Cebu Coliseum. he scored a smashing fourth round stoppage of Mexico’s Cecilio Santos in his previous ring appearance last January 14 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel.

If victorious against Big Yoo, Banal wil train his sights on another shot at world title. But that if he is to decide.

“Kung akoy pabut-on, gusto nako mo-away og balik alang sa world title kon modaog ko aning awaya. (If I have my way, I’m willing to fight for another world championship if ever I wil win this fight),” said Banal. “Daghan gyud ko plano pero nag-depende ko sa akong manager kay sila man naghatag og duwa nako. Pero bisag kinsa man nga champion akong kontrahon basta naay bakus ug naay offer (I have so many plans but that all depends on my manager because they’re the ones taking charge of my career. But I wil fight any champion if there’s an offer,” he added.

But before he thinks about it, Banal has to deal with Big Yoo, a sturdy power-hitter who holds a 16-2 slate dotted with 11KOs.

In his last fight, Big Yoo stopped Filipino fighter BJ Dolorosa in round five last April 6 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Interestingly, Big Yoo suffered his first and only defeat so far to a Filipino in Briox Ray by 10-round unanimous decision last January 3 at the Donggu Culture Hall in Daegu, South Korea.   –THE FREEMAN