AJ "Bazooka" Banal will have to defend his WBO Asia-Pacific banmtamweight belt one more time before he gets another world title shot.
ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer yesterday said that Banal will most probably stake his WBO AsPac crown this July in Manila should Mexican champion Jorge "Travieso" Arce decides to stay in the 118-pound division and defend his throne against a still undetermined opponent in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley showdown on June 9 in Las Vegas.
Arce has earlier plans to move up in weight to challenge three-division world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire. The bout is likely to take place in November.
There are two things we are looking for Banal. If Arce will defend his title in the undercard of Pacquiao, then Banal will defend his Asia-Pacific title in July in Manila. Eventually with what I know, Arce will fight Nonito in September or November so definitely Banal will fight for the [world] title this year," said Aldeguer.
"If Arce doesn't move up then we hope to fight Arce as it is a once in a lifetime chance to fight a legend," he added.
Aldeguer said they will look for another top-grade Latino boxer who could give Banal a real test, which he admitted his prized ward did not go through in a devastating first round knockout of Mexico's Raul "El Bule" Hidalgo in the "Pinoy Pride XIII:Road to Glory" last Saturday night at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
"Yes definitely as Latinos will always come to fight and Banal needs a test before he fights for a world title this year," said Aldeguer. "He showed his power last Saturday but it was too short a fight for Banal to be tested more. After watching the replay, I felt the referee did the right thing."
During the abbreviated bout, the 23-year-old Banal sneaked in a powerful left hook to the chin that send Hidalgo trembling with rubbery legs.
Referee Joseph Danrex Tapdasan, a lawyer by profession, quickly stepped in between the two fighters, but a visibly dazed and groggy Mexican kept on punching with his head down and his body shaking, prompting Tapdasan to halt the match to prevent the Mexican from further harm. The official time was 2:29 of the first round.
Banal, who bettered his record to 27-1-1 now dotted with 20KOs, kept for the fourth time the WBO AsPac crown he wrested with a fifth round stoppage of Japanese Hayato Kimura on July 17, 2010 at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City.
Banal also stretched his hot streak to 10 fights in a row since suffering the first and only defeat of his career, so far, via 10th round TKO to Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion in their interrim WBA super flyweight title match on July 26, 2008 at the Cebu Coliseum.