Cebu - Are they really back? That question will be answered tonight by the comebacking ALA Stable standouts AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Czar Amonsot before their Boholano townmates as they slug it out with separate Indonesian foes in the double main event of the “They Are Back” fight card at the Island City Mall carpark in Tagbilaran City.
Banal will clash with the 25-year-old super flyweight champion Nouldy Manakane, who is rated No. 4 by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) and is likewise ranked by the IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Asia Pacific.
On the other hand, the crowd-pleasing Amonsot will face another southpaw in Zoel Fidal, a tough Indonesian fighter who has fought in Thailand and Australia.
Banal and Amonsot fumbled in their last fights. Banal was stopped by Panamanian Rafael Concepcion in his losing bid for the WBA interim bantamweight championship, while Amonsot put up a gallant battle but failed to wrest the WBO interim lightweight title against Michael Katsidis of Australia.
“This is going to be tough a test for both of them. They should prove that they still have what it takes to be a world champion someday,” said ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer.
For Banal, he will go up against a durable warrior who has fought the likes of world challenger Hussein Hussein of Australia and the top-rated WBO contender Posuwan Promunsak of Thailand.
“He is undeniably a much-feared warrior who could give Banal a tough fight,” said Aldeguer in an earlier statement.
As an added warning for Banal, the highly-respected trainer of Manakane inTemuzin Rambing said: “Banal is mistaken if he expects to seek redemption at the expense of my boxer. Manakane will destroy him and end his career.”
Amonsot, for his part, should not take his opponent lightly as Fidal has the capability of derailing his ring return.
The action-packed show, which is open to the public for free, is a joint venture of ALA Promotions and the city government of Tagbilaran under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Dan Neri Lim.The 58-round extravaganza will feature not a few of Bohol’s fast rising fighters led by Ricky Sismundo, who will collide with hard punching Daryl Pucdol of Wake Salud stable and former WBO Asia Pacific champion Along Denoy, who will test the mettle of Aljun Salogaol of Cebu.
Another exiting feature is the appearance of the young Rocky Amonsot, who will attempt to steal the limelight from his more prominent brother Czar. He will trade blows with provincemate Samuel Galinato of Jagna , Bohol. — EBV (THE FREEMAN)