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Monday, July 24, 2006
Banal haymaker bruises Indon’s record
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TAGBILARAN City – Bohol found another promising boxer in the name of Alex John Banal.
The 17-year-old ALA Boy displayed power and ring savvy as he stopped livewire Ali Rochmad of Indonesia, who was undefeated before Saturday night’s fight.
Rochmad, the reigning Indonesian Super-flyweight champion kissed his unscathed ring record goodbye at the 1:35 mark of the fifth round when he failed to get up as referee Tony Pesons reached the count of 10.
"I just did my best. Rochmad was a strong puncher but I beat him to the punch," Banal, a former bemedalled amateur boxer, said in Cebuano.
The bout appeared to go the short distance when Rochmad found himself on the seat of his pants in the first round.
A well-timed left straight on the chin followed by a flurry of powerful punches put Rochmad down on the canvass for the first time.
Another barrage of punches followed after Rochmad stood up at the count of eight and the Indonesian champion found himself on his knees for the second knock down. He survived the ordeal by counter punching until the first round ended.
Too aggressive
"I jumped out of my seat because he (Banal) became too aggressive," said his manager Antonio L. Aldeguer. "I had to warn him that his opponent is a dangerous boxer."
Rochmad recovered and dominated the second round, tagging Banal with two-punch combinations and carefully moving out from his opponent’s set up.
"I got this lump (on my forehead) despite my defense. His punch went through and it stunned me a bit," Banal said in Cebuano after the fight, the main event of the "Battle of the Undefeated" card of SGG and Golden Boy Promotions, at the Island City Mall Car Park.
Both fighters traded punches on the third and fourth rounds, with Rochmad hitting Banal with dangerous jab-straight combinations while the Boholano tagged the Indonesian with straight-hooks.
Confidence
But as Rochmad gained confidence during the exchange, Banal hit him with a left hook to the head. His knees buckled down, as a right jab dropped him.
The win improved Banal's ring record to 8-0-1, 7 knockouts (KOs) while Rochmad had his first defeat in 13 fights.
Bohol's pride Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista scored a knockout in his exhibition fight with veteran Edwin Gastador.
In the undercard of the promotion organized by the Sandugo Foundation and the Tagbilaran City Government, ALA Boy Robert Allanic won by technical decision over Danilo Peña in the 7th round.
ALA Boy Rey Caitom found himself in deep trouble against Ruel Lagonero in the fight declared a draw.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 24, 2006 issue)
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