Banal, Gorres now bantamweights; Czar returns

Cebu - The world-renowed ALA Boxing Gym will open the new year with a very busy schedule, lining up four slambang promotions and one world title fight abroad in just three weeks bannered by the ring someback of AJ "Bazooka" Banal and Czar Amonsot as well as the bantamweight debut of Z "The Dream" Gorres.

 ALA Promotions' calendar of activities for 2009 starts off with the Summit Fight Night Boxing Tour-Sinulog card on January 18 at the carpark of Gaisano Coutrymall in Banilad.

The free-to-the-public show will be topbilled by two-time world challenger Eriberto "Ioka" Gejon, Jr. against Roldan Malinao. The rest of the bouts pit Jomanz Omanz vs. Carlo Magale, James Bacon vs. Jaypee Ignacio, and Roli Gasca vs. Greg Mangan.

 Banal, who now seeks his fortune in the bantamweight division like Gorres, and Amonsot are all set for ring return headlining the "They Are Back" spectacle on January 31 at the Island City Mall carpark in Tagbilaran City.

Banal will collide with South African Nouldy Manakane, while Amonsot will slug it out with Indonesian Zoel Fidal in a pair of non-title bouts scheduled for 10 rounds.

This will Banal's first ring appearance since his stunning ninth round KO loss to Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion in their interim WBA super flyweight championship bout on July 26 last year at the Cebu Coliseum.

ALA president Michael P. Aldeguer said it took them a lot of thinking and "soul-searching" before giving Banal the green light to fight again.

"He had a lot of mental preparations, of what went wrong. He also had physical preparations," said Aldeguer. "It took a lot of soul-searching for the team. He has no mind-set [after his loss to Concepcion]. We want to get him back into his natural thing. And last October, we saw the fire in his eyes. That's it, that's all we want."

Banal said he learned a lot from his mistake and that he had to work hard to gain back the adulation and respect of his fans.

"I will try my best to regain the confidence and respect of my fans to me. All I hope for is that they would still continue supporting me," said Banal.

The same goes to Amonsot, whose career was almost ended when a spot of blood was found outside his brain following his brutal and bloody battle with Australian Michael Katsidis on July 21, 2007 in Las Vegas.

Amonsot has not fought since then, but it never occurred in his mind that he will retire from the sport he loved most.

"After what had happened, retirement never came to my head because I'm feeling fine. I know boxing is a dangerous sport and I won't risk everything if ever I'm not in good health," said Amonsot.

Amonsot was cleared to fight again after several tests conducted here and in the United States have shown that the suspected blood clot outside his brain had already disappeared.

"I'm ready and very excited to fight again," said Amonsot, who is determined to make up from his embarrassing first round KO defeat to Indonesian Simson Butar Butar that cost him his WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight belt the last time he saw action right before his Boholano townmates on September 23, 2006 at the Island City Mall.

In ALA's third offering of the year, Jason Pagara will defend his PBF lightweight title against JR Sollano in the main event of the Summit Fight Night Boxing Tour on February 21 in Cagayan de Oro City. In the undercard, Marjohn Yap will go up against a still undetermined opponent.

Gorres, meanwhile, will vie for the WBO Oriental bantamweight championship against either Mexican Cecilio Santos or Australian Hussein Hussein on February 28 at the grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino. In the same card, Milan Melindo will strut his wares most likely opposite former IBF minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia.

Nietes, for his part, will make the second defense of his WBO throne against Erik Ramirez of Mexico on February 28 in Qaxaca, Mexico City.

"It's a risk, but that how the way it should be," said Aldeguer in defending their decision to let Nietes travel to Mexico and put his WBO belt on the line at enemy lines. "It's a career move for him. It's one way he can can earn respect and international recognition." – EBV (THE FREEMAN)