| |
|
BANAL SPARS WITH 'BON JOVI'
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Thu, 05 Jun 2008

Undefeated ALA Boy AJ 'Bazooka' Banal, prepping for his July 26 quest for the WBA superfly crown, has now log in a total of 64 rounds against the likes of Hilario 'Bon Jovi" Canillas and the veteran Pedro 'Cobrita' Malco at the famed ALA Gym.
ALA head trainer Edito Villamor, in an interview yesterday, said Banal has been training since his last bout against Caril Herrera whom he easily dispatched in four rounds.
The 19-year-old Banal (17-0-1, 14 KO's) takes on Panama's Rafael Concepcion (10-2-1, 6 KO's) in a WBA-mandated battle for the regular title. Unified WBC and WBA supefly champ Cristian Mijares has been elevated to 'super champion' status, thus paving the way for Banal to vie for the regular title.
Villamor said Banal took only a week off after the Herrera fight, and was immediately back in the gym training for his next fight.
Malco, a veteran international campaigner, yesterday said Banal has been steadily progressing even while he is already a boxing prodigy, and hinted that the young fighter will have an easy run to the WBA throne.
"He's so hard to hit, and if you commit a mistake against him, you'll pay the price," said Malco in an interview.
Trainer Villamor said that they are targetting more than 100 rounds of sparring for Banal against Canillas and Malco, plus the inclusion later of bigger boys Weng Haya and Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov , Sat, 18 Apr 2026AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026JESSE RODRIGUEZ CHALLENGES ANTONIO VARGAS FOR WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN GLENDALE ON JUNE 13 , Sat, 18 Apr 2026WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND PHOTOS FROM SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS - TOMORROW, APRIL 18 AT FRONTWAVE ARENA IN OCEANSIDE, CALIF. , Sat, 18 Apr 2026OFFICIAL ‘REVOLUTION’ WEIGHTS FROM CORK, IRELAND , Sat, 18 Apr 2026MIKHAIL GRIGORYAN DEFEATS JEO SANTISIMA, CROWNED NEW IBF ASIA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION IN SERPUKHOV By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026Ra’eese Aleem Vows Victory Over Angelo Leo Ahead of May 9th IBF Title Fight in Atlanta , Sat, 18 Apr 2026WCM Nika Juris Nicolas 10th in Serbia By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ PENS LONG TERM EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN AND MATCHROOM , Sat, 18 Apr 2026Hermie Rivera: A Fil-Am Original By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AS BEN WHITTAKER TAKES ON BRAIAN SUAREZ – LIVE ON DAZN , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Lerasan to fight for WBO Asian Pacific bantam title By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Fuentes is now ready to fight in Juego Todo By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026LIVERPOOL FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL AS WHITTAKER GETS READY FOR TOUGH SUAREZ TEST – LIVE ON DAZN , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Ancajas to fight as feather against Garcia on April 18 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026MVP presents Delgado-Artiga by WBA superflyweight championship on June 13 in Orlando By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Mexican legend Miguel Canto passes away By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026King Lovick Monteadora to see action in 2026 Hainan Taekwondo Open By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Quiñonero suffers injury, cancels debut in Juego Todo By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: A Great Night of Boxing in Japan By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|