Banal, 'Tyson' trade verbal jabs

CEBU, Philippines - They still have to face each other in the ring but tension already flared up with ALA Boxing Gym stalwart AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Canadian sensation Tyson “Prince of Hali” Cave immediately trading verbal jabs the first time they met face-to-face.

The brazen Canadian visitor (15-1, 5KOs) taunted Banal (24-1, 19KOs) during the final press conference of the "Pinoy Pride 7: Battle at Mactan" yesterday at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa. They will slug it out tomorrow night, with Banal defending his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt at the Hoops Dome in Brgy. Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

Cave, who has been calling out Banal since he arrived in Cebu, finally got his wish as he shared room with the ALA bantamweight champion, whom he promised to embarrass in front of thousands of Cebuano fight fans.

“Hey AJ, I’ve been looking all over for you,” said Cave to Banal. “I’m on a win-win situation, I have no pressure and what ever happens on that night, I’m sure I’m going to win.”

The 29-year-old Cave also told Banal that he is not afraid of his knockout power because the ALA mainstay will not going to land a solid punch to him.

“I'll give him (Banal) five dollars every time he touches me,” added Cave.

But Banal was unperturbed by Cave's stinging remarks as the pride of Brgy. Ermita kept his cool and showed confidence in dispatching the flashy Canadian.

“Aw makita raman unya na sa ring ba asa na kutob iyang pagarpar. Bisan unsa pa na siya kaabtik nga iyang gipanghambug, madakpan ra gihapon na nako siya,” said Banal.

Banal said he is focused coming to the fight and that he is ready to shut Cave’s mouth by winning convincingly, which would be his passport to a dream rematch against Panamanian Rafael Concepcion.

In the supporting bout, former world-title challenger Michael Domingo (40-15-2, 18KOs) will try to stage an impressive comeback against Indonesian Richard Samosir (18-3-3, 7KOs), while the hard-hitting Lorenzo Villanueva (20-0, 19KOs) will protect his unblemished record against tough Indon warrior Eddy Camaro (24-10, 9KOs). 

The official weigh-in of the Pinoy Pride 7 is set at 11 am today at the Gaisano Grand Mall in Mactan Island. - THE FREEMAN