'Bazooka' blasts Yoo before big Bohol crowd

MANILA, Philippines - Power-punching A. J. Banal proved too tough for Japanese Hayato Kimura, known as Big Yoo, as the Bazooka from the ALA Gym of Cebu scored a sensational fifth round knockout in a blood-and-guts bout for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight crown before over 30,000 wildly cheering fans at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City last Saturday night.

Fireworks erupted from the start with neither Banal nor Yoo taking a step back in unloading their deadliest bombs. They traded power shots to the delight of the huge crowd and City Mayor Dan Neri Lim who spared no effort in assembling an action-packed card to showcase Bohol’s brightest ring stars.

Banal, who traces his roots to Bohol, didn’t disappoint his legion of fans as he bombarded the bleached-blond Yoo with a variety of punches. But the fight was far from one-sided. With blood trickling down his face from a cut on the scalp inflicted by an accidental headbutt in the second round, Banal looked like a wounded tiger in the ring. Yoo, enjoying a three-inch height advantage, engaged Banal in a give-and-take slugfest that kept the crowd on its feet from the opening bell.

Early in the fifth round, Yoo staggered Banal but as he moved forward, got caught with a right to the temple and a vicious left uppercut that spun him around. Yoo tumbled to the canvas, badly dazed. New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish counted Yoo out at the 1:59 mark.

It was no cakewalk for Banal who endured heavy blows and a bloody cut to register his fifth win in a row since losing to Panama’s Rafael Concepcion in Cebu City two years ago. But he passed the test with flying colors. The 21-year-old southpaw is clearly on track in his bid for a world title shot. He’s booked to face Nicaragua’s Luis Alberto Perez at the Waterfront Hotel ballroom in Cebu City on Aug. 28 as ALA Boxing Gym president Michael Aldeguer keeps him busy to stay sharp.

The victory raised Banal’s record to 22-1-1, with 18 KOs. Yoo, who used to fight in Thailand as Hayato Chuwatana and is now based in Seoul, was coming off a fifth round knockout win over Filipino B. J. Dolorosa in Tokyo. His record dipped to 16-3, with 11 KOs.

Another Bohol star Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista figured in a three-round exhibition with Cebu’s Fernando Otic. Bautista, 24, is training for a fight against a still to be determined opponent, possibly a Mexican, on Aug. 28.

Bautista’s progress is now carefully monitored by strength and conditioning coach Pio Gerardo Solon. “This is something very new to me,” said Bautista whose record is 28-2, with 21 KOs. “It looks so easy to do but the effect is great. I can feel my strength and balance improve and I feel other muscles have been developed.”

Bautista impressed the crowd in the exhibition, battering Otic without hardly raising a sweat.

While Banal and Bautista seem to be ready for title shots, Aldeguer said he’s not rushing things.

“The chance to fight for a world title will come at the right time,” said Aldeguer. “They have already experienced the pain of losing a title shot but in some ways, that has helped them mature fast and become better fighters and persons.” Aldeguer referred to Banal’s loss to Concepcion for the interim WBA superflyweight crown and Bautista’s one-round knockout defeat to Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO superbantamweight belt in 2007.

Aldeguer said ALA fighters are being lined up for a big card in Dubai on Oct. 29 and depending on how Banal and Bautista fare in their next fights, may be included in the Tennis Arena extravaganza.

“The event will be a co-promotion with the Dubai-based KO Promotions of Zack Tamafai,” said Aldeguer. “It is also part of ALA Promotions’ direction to go global in promoting events in any part of the world. We have just recently announced that ALA Promotions will be signing up fighters not only from the Philippines but also anywhere from around the world. A foreign fighter now with the ALA Gym is former WBC minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama of Japan who will make Cebu his home base. We are now promoting Jimrex Jaca and keeping our doors open to any Filipino fighter who wants to join the ALA Gym.”

Also in the Tagbilaran card, lightwelterweight contender Jason Pagara stopped Korea’s Young Bin Kim on cuts at 2:18 of the second round. Pagara, 18, made short work of the visitor as he used his razor-shop punches to cut up both Kim’s eyelids, prompting the ring physican to advise a halt. In another bout, superfeatherweight James Bacon halted Eric Macas at 2:05 of the sixth round. Body shots brought down Macas who was counted out.

For years, Mayor Lim has been at the forefront of promoting sporting events in Bohol, giving the opportunity for local athletes to perform on the big stage. Lim’s executive assistant Mark Monton worked tirelessly in making sure “Sandugo----Labanan Ng Mga Kampeon” came off without a hitch.