| |
|
BANAL INTO INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008

Undefeated AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (17-0-1, 14 ko?S) who battles Panama?s Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion (10-2-1, 6 ko?s) for the vacant World Boxing Association super flyweight title in Cebu City on July 26 is taking no chances and has stepped up his training for the fight.
Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer said that the preparation of Banal is ?much more intensive than when he fought Caril Herrera? who was ranked No. 1 by the WBC and was undefeated until Banal stopped him in four rounds at the Araneta Coliseum last April.
Banal spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and goes eight rounds against a roster of sparring partners that include promising Weng Haya, Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo, flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes, veteran Pedro Malco and lanky Jomanz Omanz.
Banal has continued to maintain his weight at 125 pounds which is ten pounds over the super flyweight limit but his handlers say the 19 year old has no weight problems at all.
Aldeguer whose care and concern for his fighters borders on the legendary makes sure that Banal?s diet is also closely monitored.
Banal is ranked No. 3 by the WBA while Concepcion is ranked No.6. Banal is also rated No.1 by the IBF, No. 2 by the WBO and o. 5 by the WBC. Concepcion is also in the WBC rankings at No.10.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Open Workout: Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell Prepare For Saturday's All-Ohio World Title Showdown , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Dela Peña stops Delos Santos, now ready for Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026A Filipino Champion’s Last Fourth of July: A Visit to Oaks Ball Park By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Amazing Muay Thai WBC 2026 Festival Consolidates Its Global Success in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026IBA Bare Knuckle unveils star-studded fight card ahead of its first event in the USA , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Eman-Perez trilogy being set up in August By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Macababayao to face again Latonio after 4 years in Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Legendary Olympic Trainer Victor Pascual to be inducted into the Republica Dominicana Hall of Fame By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels , Wed, 01 Jul 2026HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Paradero to fight Cuarto for PBF Silver title on July 25 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026World Boxing Council Joins the Humanitarian Aid Relief for Earthquake Victims in Venezuela By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026LESTER MARTINEZ VS. LUKA PLANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Wed, 01 Jul 2026KORONADAL SLUGFEST: I’m always ready – Roherstrey Jhon Yor By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 JUNE 2026: Paro UD Crocker for IBF Welter Title; Ennis Stops Zayas in 7 for WBA, WBO Welter Titles; Wins by Whittaker, Vargas and Tucker; Valenzuela KO2 De Los Santos By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Rising Featherweight Star Jaycob "The Raging Bull" Ramos Signs Exclusive Management Agreement with Boxing VIP , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Clarion to leave on July 2 for WBC Youth title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Gustavo Trujillo Stays Undefeated with Devastating Seventh-Round Knockout at Fist of Fury 11 , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World Boxing Council Unveils Special July 4th Commemorative Belt Honoring USA 250th Anniversary By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Jun 202612-Year-Old Filipina Memory Prodigy Georgina Santos to Represent the Philippines in Two World Memory Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World championship mega-fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez postponed to October , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Filipino Jonas Magpantay wins Indonesia; pockets $15,000, gains steam heading to Vietnam By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Ex-kickboxer to debut in MMA Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Deaño settles to a draw By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026Abdyrakhmanov defeats Kadiev, Kudryashov knocks out Yousefi at IBA Bare Knuckle 5 in Moscow , Sun, 28 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|