AJ “Bazooka” Banal, the world champion prospect from the respected ALA Gym remains that. A prospect.
Banal gave up after getting decked by a right from Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in the 10th round of their World Boxing Association super flyweight title fight at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
A scene the reminds Filipino fans of Erik Morales shaking his head while he was counted in his loss to Manny Pacquiao in the third of their epic trilogy was replayed last night.
This time, it was a local boy and he was ahead.
After getting decked at 2:35 in the 10th, Banal, managed to get on his knee at the count of three and while his corner was egging him to get up and beat the count, he shook his head. Twice.
Philippine Verbek of Belgium had AJ ahead 86-84, Francisco Martinez of New Zealand had AJ up 88-82, while Charlen Prayasab also had the Pinoy up by two, 86-84.
Banal dropped to 17-1-1 with 14KOs, while Conception improved to 11-2-1 with 7 KOs.
“Napunga siya,” said ALA gym head trainer Edito Villamor after attending to his ward seconds after the abrupt end and while stunned Cebuano boxing fans slowly trooped away from the venue.
Concepcion, whose wife just gave birth to a daughter, rolled and jumped with glee as the Pinoy walked to his corner.
“He did it on heart,” said Concepcion’s manager, Damon de Berry. “We came here to win. When we got here everybody was talking about AJ. We didn’t make a big fuss.”
Sportsmanship
In a gesture of sportsmanship, de Berry later checked Banal’s condition with promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA while the boxer was made to don an oxygen mask by Emergency Rescue Unit personnel.
“He’s (Banal) a great kid,” said De Berry.
The boxer indeed showed his great skills in the early going of the fights, taking the first two rounds as Concepcion, with his nose bloodied in the first, opted to clinch—at times almost comically—when he got tagged.
However, the visitor lived up to his nickname as he gored his way back, taking Banal’s best shot and giving some.
Banal inexplicably slowed in the seventh, while Concepcion’s mouthpiece flew in the eighth.
In the ninth, Banal got two extra breaks after the tape on his gloves got loose twice, and at the end of the round, got deducted a point for hitting after the bell and in the 10th, the tables turned with Banal opting to clinch before getting staggered by Concepcion’s right.
“In my honest opinion, he was over-trained and he was too excited to become the champion and he was his own worst enemy. I also believe he will recover and become a world champion someday,” said matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz. (ML)
