ALA boys in Manila for ‘Invasion’

ALA Boxing Gym stars Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, and Michael “Sunday Punch” Domingo arrived yesterday morning in Manila mindful of the gargantuan mission they have to hurdle in this Sunday’s explosive “Invasion:Philippines vs. The World” card at the Araneta Coliseum.

The vaunted ALA triumvirate though are fit and ready as they march into crucial battles that will serve as the yardstick on what future lies ahead of them in the squared arena.

Bautista (24-1, 17KOs) will defend his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title against Mexican power-hitter Genaro Camargo (16-3, 10KOs), while reigning WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight titlist Banal (16-0-1, 13KOs) will go up against the undefeated Uraguayan knockout artist Cahil Herrera (21-0, 13KOs) in an official IBF eliminator.

This will be Bautista’s second fight since his devestating first round KO loss to WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon on August 11 last year in Sacramento, California.

For Banal, a mandatory shot at the IBF super flyweight title currently held by Russian Dimirti Kirilov is at stake if he gets past Herrera, who is described by international matchmaker non-pareil Sampson Lewkowicz as a “very strong and tough.”

On the other hand, Domingo (34-14-2, 13KOs), the reigning RP bantamweight title-holder, will slug it out with Thai Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana (18-2, 7KOs) in another exciting undercard.

The six-nation extravaganza featuring three championship bouts is topbilled by Gerry “Fearless” Peñalosa (52-6-2, 35KOs), who will make the first defense of his WBO bantamweight throne against his Thai Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (72-9, 48KOs), his former victim.

Peñalosa knocked out Voparin in the sixth round during their first meeting for the WBC International super flyweight plum on November 25, 2000 at the Casino Filipino Ampitheater in Parañaque City.

Peñalosa is hell-bent on duplicating his materful performance over Vorapin seven years ago.

“Concentrated tayo kay Vorapin. Hindi ko talaga siya bibigyan ng tsansa,” said Peñalosa in a report by philboxing.com. “Kung makakuha ng pagkakataon, gagawin natin yun (knockout).”

Meanwhile, the main protagonists of the “Invasion” slugfest co-presented by Golden Boy Promotions and ALA Promotions in partnership with television giant ABS-CBN are expected to trade barbs today in the pre-fight news conference at the Mandarin Suites situated at the fourth floor of Gateway Mall.