Philippines, 23 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BANAL RICHLY DESERVES 'BAZOOKA' TAG


PhilBoxing.com




In modern weaponry, the "Bazooka" is a portable shoulder-type rocket launcher designed to destroy short-range targets in a land combat.

Interestingly in the boxing world, there is one warrior aptly nicknamed "Bazooka" for his capability of destructing his opponents in short distance. He is AJ Banal of Cebu's fabled ALA Boxing Gym.

Last Sunday, a good number of Cebuano fight fans who packed the grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Brgy. Lahug witnessed Banal's destructive punching power in his 68-second demolition of Mexican champion Esau Gaona.

With just a few seconds gone by after the opening bell, the pride of Corella, Bohol attacked Gaona with deadly precision, dropping off a right hook-left straight combo to send his foe down on both knees.

Gaona quickly got up and signalled to his cornerman Manuel Montiel, older brother of Z Gorres' conqueror WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel, that he has no mouthpiece, prompting referee Bruce MacTavish to call for an official timeout.

When the bout resumed, Gaona was again at the receiving end of Banal's unforgiving offensive. A jarring right hook to the head flattened Gaona for the second time.

Gaona got up quickly, but Banal didn't waste a single second in going for the kill, sneaking in a powerful left straight to the chin that staggered Gaona against the ropes before crashing onto the canvass for the third time. MacTavish wisely stepped in a waved off the bout at 1:08 of the first round.

"Banal is just too strong and powerful. Look at how many boxers he already knocked out in the first round," said Banal's benefactor and ALA big boss Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer.

Counting Gaona, the Brgy. Ermita, Cebu City resident has decked four opponents in just one round. The rest were Julius Cabusas and Thai mercenaries Dechapol Bankluaygym and Komrit Lukkuongmuekol.

In his budding two-year pro career, Banal is unscathed in 16 fights with one draw and a dozen victories via stoppage. Apart from his four first-round KO wins, Banal chopped down six others foes within five rounds including Rodel Veronque (TKO5), John Clifford Ranan (TKO3), Thai Bansaeng Sithpraprom (KO2), Jun Pader (TKO4), Indonesian Ali Rochmad
(KO5), and Mexican Jorge Cardenas (TKO3).

At 18 years old though, it is still a long and meandering journey for Banal before he could scale the summit of success.

And Banal's might will further be tested when he battles Mexican juggernaut Jovanny Soto (25-7-1, 20KOs) in the undercard of Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista's (23-1, 17KOs) ring comeback against another dangerous Mexican pug in Jesus Rios (24-3-1, 18KOs) on December 8 - the feast of Immaculate Concepcion - at the Araneta Coliseum.

Top photo: AJ 'Bazooka' Banal (L) decks Esau Gaona for the third and final time in the first round during their fight last Sunday in Cebu. Photo by Dong Secuya.




Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN GRAND ARRIVALS QUOTES
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Headlining again at home a dream come true for 16-0-1 junior middleweight Anthony Velasquez
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Amateur Standout Stephanie Simon Signs with Split-T Boxing Management
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 21 April 2025: Fundora KOs Badillo, Retains Undisputed Belts; Smith UD Germain; Kovalev Returns with a Win
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Bantamweight Anthony Garnica Scores TKO Against Aston Palicte to Remain Undefeated
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
    , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.