Sunday, December 24, 2006 Banal to go after WBO Youth title By Rommel C. Manlosa Sun.Star Staff Reporter
YOUNG sensation Alex John “Bazooka” Banal will open the 2007 boxing calendar with a bang as the Tagbilaran City-adopted son will be fighting for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Youth World super-flyweight championship in January.
The undefeated Banal will be the main attraction of the SGG Promotions and ALA Gym Sinulog Boxing card for the newly created WBO Youth World championship.
“We just received information from Leon Panoncillo (WBO Asia-Pacific chairman) that WBO is opening up the WBO Youth World championship, so we are going to take that opportunity to pit Banal for the world title,” said Cebu boxing patron Antonio Lopez Aldeguer to Sun.Star Cebu.
The 18-year-old Banal will be facing an Argentinean boxer for the 10-round title bout for 21 years old and under fighters.
Other opponents
“We are looking up for an Argentinean opponent but if not we will be looking for other nationalities, preferably a Latin American fighter,” added Aldeguer.
Panoncillo’s announcement came last Dec. 21, and ALA Gym is rushing things to promote the titular event here in Cebu.
“As of now, we are negotiating everything and hopefully by January, during the Sinulog week, we can hold the championship,” stressed Aldeguer.
Banal, undefeated in 11 professional fights with a 10-0-1 win-loss-draw record, peppered with eight knockout victories, is considered as one of the brightest world title prospects of the Philippines.
Sparring partner
“I can assure you that Banal is the best young fighter right now in the country. He is quick, talented and power-punching. I had some good time sparring with him,” said former WBC flyweight champion and the current OPBF bantamweight king Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tuñacao.
Tuñacao believes that Banal will go places because of his talent and power.
Banal, whom celebrated boxing trainer Freddie Roach was eager to meet when he visited Cebu last week, is scheduled to leave for the United States for training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywoood, but with the recent development, he might have to stay and concentrate on training for the WBO Youth World championship.
Banal was also tentatively scheduled to fight the 29-year-old Mexican Gerson Guerrero for the World Cup, Philippines vs. Mexico in February.
