ALA: Banal eager to win world title
-A A +AMonday, June 18, 2012
THE hungrier fighter is bound to take home the crown.
That is what ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer thinks of the fight between his ward AJ Banal and Thai pug Pungluang Sor Singyu for the vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown.
“He (Sor Singyu) is a technical fighter that can either brawl or box. AJ is a versatile fighter too so it can be an interesting fight. The guy (Sor Singyu) has an impressive record and fought more times than AJ. It depends as to who wants it more,” Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
The 23-year-old Banal is 27-1-1 with 20 knockouts and hasn’t lost a single fight since his 10th round knockout loss to Rafael Concepcion five years ago.
Despite being just 24 years old, Sor Singyu is a veteran of the sport and has logged an impressive slate of 41-1 with 26 knockouts. His only loss was by split decision against Stephane Jamoye back in 2009.
It has been a neck-and-neck promotional battle between two heavyweight promotional outfits, ALA Promotions and One Songchai Promotions, as to where the world title fight will be staged.
“Nothing has been finalized yet as it has been a very difficult negotiation because of the fact that we both want the fight to be held in our respective countries and One Songchai is the biggest promoter in Thailand. What I can say is that ALA Promotions will do everything to bring the fight here in our country but if it gets out of hand then we are willing to fight in Thailand,” said Aldeguer.
If ALA Promotions earns the right to hold the fight, Aldeguer wants it on Sept. 22 or 29 at either the historic Araneta Coliseum or the new SM MOA Arena. The Thai counterparts, on the other hand, want it on Sept. 21 in Thailand.
After failing to capture a world title in his first attempt, Banal is hungry for redemption and has waited for years to finally win one.
“AJ is very excited and focused. He has been waiting for years for this opportunity after the loss against Concepcion last July 2008. It’s been four long years of waiting.”
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 18, 2012.
Sports
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