'Pinoy Pride XVII' show to feature 3 title bouts

CEBU, Philippines - In what could be the biggest event in Philippine boxing history after the "Thrilla in Manila" back in 1975, three championship bouts will be featured in the "Pinoy Pride XVII: Philippines vs. The World" on October 20 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The resurgent world title hopeful AJ "Bazooka" Banal (28-1, 20KOs) will headline the mega-boxing event presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports as he takes on Thai Pungluang Sor Singyu (42-1, 27KOs) for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown.

“This event will dictate the future of Philippine boxing,” said ALA Promotions President Michael P. Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel. “If AJ wins the title, this could be a start for something big not only for ALA Promotions but to the whole Philippine boxing. This is a chance to raise the bar for us and to show to the whole world that we have arrived.”

Banal, who faltered in first world title attempt four years ago, said he is now a hundred percent ready for the most important challenge that smacks his way since his devastating 10th round knockout loss to Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion right before his hometown fans in 2008 at the Cebu Coliseum.

“I'm now in peak form and I can safely say that I am ready for the biggest fight of my career,” said Banal, who has already logged in almost a hundred rounds of no-holds-barred sparring against his stablemates Michael Domingo, Mark Bernaldez, Joseph Von Miñoza and Albert Pagara.

“We have studied Sor Singyu well and we are ready with our gameplan come the fight night,” said ALA Boxing Gym chief strategist Edmund Villamor.

In the supporting main event, Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista (33-2, 25KOs) hopes to hurdle his first major test towards regaining lost glory as he slugs it out with Mexican Daniel Ruiz (27-5, 19KOs) for the WBO International featherweight belt.

”Not fighting in the main event gives me an advantage because I don’t have to deal with so much pressure,” said Bautista. “But one thing is for sure, I will do my best to win against Ruiz and hopefully get a chance to fight for the world title.”

Bautista is being groomed by the ALA Promotions to fight for the world title in the future, possibly against WBO titlist Orlando Salido or his former tormentor Daniel Ponce de Leon.

In another match-up worth watching for, Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara (29-2, 18KOs) will face the dangerous Miguel Antoine (17-0, 9KOs) of Barbados for the WBO International light welterweight diadem.

The rest of the card features Michael "Sunday Punch" Domingo (44-16, 23KOs) vs. Mudde Ntambe Rabison of Uganda and hot prospect Marlon Tapales (20-1, 16KOs) vs. Rasmudin of Indonesia. (FREEMAN)