Banal destroys Big Yoo in five Pagara, Bacon also victorious in blockbuster 'Sandugo' boxing event

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — AJ "Bazooka" Banal wrested the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight championship with a devastating one-punch knockout of Korean Big Yoo in round five during Saturday night's "Sandugo - Labanan ng mga Kampeon" fight card witnessed by a mammoth crowd of over 30,000 at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City.

Inspired by the ardent cheers of his hometown fans, Banal pressed the attack button right from the opening bell, but Big Yoo was very game enough to lock himself up in an intense exchange of heavy punches with the ALA Boxing Gym star.

In round two, Banal was bloodied after he sustained a nasty cut on his right head inflicted by an accidental headbutt.

That does not affect Banal's performance though as in round three he landed several solid combinations but Big Yoo showed great fighting spirit and at times battered Banal with powerful body shots.

In the next two rounds, the two protagonists still figured in an intense fistfight and as they were about to engage in another furious trade of telling blows in round five, Banal sneaked in a crushing left uppercut to the chin that sent Big Yoo crashing into the canvass like a sack of potato.

Seeing the Korean dazed and glassy-eyed, referee Bruce MacTavish wisely intervened to halt the bout and prevent Big Yoo from further damage. The official time was 1:59 of round five.

"He's very tough and punches so hard. I'm just lucky enough to end the bout that early," Banal told reporters.

When asked on what's up next for him, Banal quickly replied: "I'm willing to fight anybody, even if I’m going to face a world champion. But that all depends on my manager (Michael P. Aldeguer)."

Banal improved to 22-1 now packed with 18KOs, while Big Yoo slipped to 16-3 with 11KOs.

In the supporting bouts, lightweight prospect Jason Pagara (19-1, 11KOs) of Cagayan de Oro scored a smashing second round TKO of Korean Young Bin Kim (11-2, 7KOs), while another ALA Stable mainstay James Bacon knocked down Eric Macas of Lanao del Norte's Bong Yap Stable three times in the sixth round enroute to a fine knockout victory.

In the preliminaries, Wilbeth Loberanis won by KO at 2:58 of the second round over Julito Catubay, Jomar Jardonillo beat Sherwin Lungay by unanimous decision, Rocky Bacor eked out a split verdict over Jefferson Reodique, while Ricky Sismundo stopped Jovy Merca at 2:16 of the second round. (THE FREEMAN)