Banal gets added boost in Cebu return

CEBU, Philippines – ALA Stable star AJ “Bazooka” Banal gained an extra driving force to make an impression in his comeback fight before his loyal Cebuano fans.

This as ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer revealed that Banal is guaranteed to fight in the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown if he gets past African “Golden Boy” Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania in their ring rumble topbilling the “Pagsubok” card this Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

“I just got a confirmation from Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz that if Banal wins this Saturday, he will fight in the undercard of Mayweather-Marquez match,” said Aldeguer in a chat with reporters the other night at the Phat Thursday Restaurant and Sports Bar in Banilad Town Centre (BTC).

Mayweather and Marquez is set to clash on July 18 in Las Vegas, with the winner likely to challenge next pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Aldeguer said they don’t want to put much pressure on Banal, but his ward should know the significance of his bout against Matumla, which will serve as a yardstick if he is again ready for the big stage following his disappointing 10th round knockout loss to Panamian Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion during their WBA interim super flyweight championship on July 26 last year also at the Coliseum.

“We’re going to test where he’s at right now, if he’s ready to go back to that level (a world-class fighter),” said Aldeguer. “It’s a big fight out there. He can’t afford to lose because he will also lose the opportunity of fighting in the Mayweather-Marquez undercard.”

 The 20-year-old Banal dished out a smahing fourth round stoppage of Indonesian Nouldy Manakane in his ring return last January 31 at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City. 

Meanwhile, Matumla along with Morris Chule of Kenya and Hero Katili of Indonesia arrived in town yesterday. They are expected to talk on their respective fight plans in a press conference this morning at Patio Isabel. At 5:30 pm, they will hold a public workout at the ALA Gym-BTC.

Chule, the Kenyan super featherweight title-holder who has fought in Russia, Kazakhstan and Hungary, will slug it out with former WBO Asia-Pacific jr lightweight king Czar Amonsot, while Katili, presently the Indonesian welterweight titlist, will trade punches with WBO Youth lightweight champion Jason Pagara in another must-see attraction.

All the main protagonists of the keenly-awaited “Pagsubok” extravaganza will meet face-to-face in the final press conference tomorrow at Cebu Grand Hotel. The official weigh-in of the slambang event bankrolled by ALA Promotions in association with giant TV network ABS-CBN will be held at the SM City-Cebu Entertainment Center on Friday.

Tickets are reasonably priced at P50 for general admission, P150 for upper box, P300 for lower box, P500 for ringside, P1,500 for VIP 1st row, P1, 250 for VIP 2nd row, and P1,000 for VIP 3rd row. Tickets are available at ALA Promotions office (032-2364611), ALA Gym-BTC (032-4162011), Island Souvenir boutique-Ayala (032-2312581), USA Sports-Ayala (032-2321854), and Bisaya Ispisyal Boutique (032-2326888). — EBV (THE FREEMAN)