CEBU, Philippines - As if belittling AJ “Bazooka” Banal’s ring prowess, Luis Alberto Perez’s manager Mario Antonio Garcia Fonseca said Banal is too little for a bantamweight, even as he once again expressed confidence that his ward will emerge victorious in their hotly-anticipated showdown topbilling the “Pinoy Pride” mega boxing event tomorrow night at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
“After watching the fight of Banal, I knew how to defeat him,” said Fonseca during yesterday pre-fight news conference at the Caspian room of Waterfront Hotel. “It will be a good and hard fight and we come here to win.”
Aside from studying carefully Banal’s fighting style, Fonseca said the prized ALA Boxing Gym stalwart is a little smaller for a bantamweight and that would be of their advantage come the judgment day.
“Banal is little for bantamweight. Bantamweight in Nicaragua are bigger and stronger” said Fonseca, even as he pictured out that Perez wil be climbing up the ring weighing like lightweight.
As if an additional tirade, Fonseca said Banal still has a lot to prove as he is not yet as popular like Manny Pacquiao in Nicaragua.
But Banal, cool and level-headed as ever, just laughed at Fonseca’s statements, saying that he will just make a name in Nicaragua but in the entire world.
“Hindi ako sikat sa Nicaragua pero after ko siya talunin sikat na ako,” said the 22-year-old Banal.
Banal, fresh from an sterling fifth round knockout of Japan-based Korean Big Yoo last 17 in the historic Sandugo fight card in Tagbilaran City, sports a 21-1 record spiked with 17KOs, while Perez, nicknamed “El Demolidor” or “Demolition Man” for the way he dismantled his opponents, carries an equally-impressive 26-4 slate packed with 17KOs.
For his part, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer admitted he is a little bit nervous for the fight because aside from fighting in front of the Cebuano crowd, a win against Perez will open the window of opportunities for Banal abroad particularly in the United States.
“All the plans for Banal and the development of Cebu as the new boxing capital of the world are at stake,” said Aldeguer.
In the supporting main event of the slambang show presented by ALA Promotions in partnership with ABS-CBN Sports, Mark Jason Melligen (19-2, 13KOs) will face an acid test against the Mexican knockout sensation Luis Bladimir Hernandez (18-3, 16KOs) under the welterweight division.
“It is not the question of winning, but how Melligen wins it to show that he deserves to be a Top Rank boxer,” said Melligen’s Las Vegas-based trainer Tony Martin.
The undercards feature two rising ALA stars in lightweight Jason Pagara (23-1, 11KOs) and Toledo bomber Larry “Bonjovi” Canillas” (15-2, 13KOs).
Pagara will face Sapaetch Sor Sakaorat of Thailand, while Canillas will be tested by Filipino veteran Ramie Laput (38-4, 17KOs).
Meanwhile, the official weigh-in of “Pinoy Pride” is set at 11 am today at the atrium of SM City-Cebu. (THE FREEMAN)