Philippines, 29 Mar 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BANAL, CONCEPCION BATTLE FOR WBA CROWN TODAY


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU CITY--Unbeaten Filipino AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Panama's Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion will do battle for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) superfly interim championship today at the 10,000-capacity New Cebu Coliseum here.

The event, sanctioned by the WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, is presented by ALA Promotions, ABS-CBN, Golden Boy Promotions and the Cebu City government.

Banal came in at a perfect 115 lbs during official weigh-in held yesterday at the SM City Cebu, while Concepcion had to frantically shake off a pound before making the official weight.

The event has the boxing community abuzzed, noting that if Banal wins the crown, he will become the third youngest Filipino to win a world title, edging out superstar Manny Pacquiao who will scale down to fourth.

If Concepcion wins the title, he will become only the third Panamanian to win the WBA crown in the Philippines, next only to Alfonso Lopez and Hilario Zapata.

Lopez and Zapata have come to the Philippines to beat Filipino fighters in a WBA-sanctioned event. Lopez TKO'd Erbito Salavarria in the 15th round to claim the WBA flyweight crown in 1976. Ten years later, Zapata decisioned Dodie Boy Penalosa to claim the same WBA flyweight belt at the University of Life Stadium in Manila.

However, Dodie Penalosa, who attended yesterday's weigh-in to show support to Banal, said that his fight against Zapata and the Banal-Concepcion fight will be a very different fight scenario.

"When I fought Zapata, that was the first time that I fought as a flyweight. And that was the first time that I fought an opponent who ran a lot, ducked too low, and clinched too strong," said Penalosa in an exclusive interview at the weigh-in.

Penalosa sees a definitive victory by Banal, noting that style differences will showcase the best of the young Cebuano fighter.

"This fight will showcase the best of AJ Banal, because he is fighting a bullstrong opponent, who is not known to use the ring. Banal's counter-punching, and ability to move, will win the fight for him," Penalosa predicts.

Meanwhile, Japan's top boxing promoter Akihiko Honda yesterday congratulated both Banal and Concepcion for their WBA interim championship showdown.

In a long-distance call to international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, Honda congratulated the two fighters and wished them the best of luck.

Honda will promote the WBA superfly regular championship between Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono in September, with the winners of today's fight and the September tussle expected to meet not later than December 15.

In the undercard, Milan Melindo stepped in at 108 lbs on the first try but Panamanian Carlos Melo was 3/4 pound overweight on the first try, 1/4 pound over on the second try but finally got the required weight of 108 lbs on the third try an hour after. Melindo and Melo will duke it out for the WBA Intercontinental Light Flyweight title.

Michael Domingo and Indonesian Rivo Ringkung who will fight for the WBO Oriental Bantamweight title, made weight on the first try. Domingo came in at 117 1/2 lbs while Ringkung came in at 116 1/4 lbs.

The other match-ups and their weights: James Bacon - 127 1/2 lbs. vs Skak Max 126 1/2 lbs; Jun Intor - 119 lbs. vs Roldan Malinao 120 1/4 lbs; Robert Allanic - 125 lbs (second try) vs Leonardo Doronio - 124 lbs; Hilario Canillas - 122 1/2 lbs vs Ramil Cabalan - 120 lbs.

Top photo: AJ 'Bazooka' Banal of the Philippines (R) and Rafael 'El Torito' Concepcion of Panama face off after yesterday's weighin at the SM City-Cebu.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 65: MELVIN JERUSALEM AND JAKE AMPARO VERSUS SHIGEOKA BROTHERS IN WORLD TITLE DOUBLE HEADER ON MARCH 31 IN JAPAN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Atlanta Repeats Over Boston, 123-122 Becomes First Team to Beat Celts Twice
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • AJ Paciones Stops Wanchai, Retains WBA Asia 108 Belt in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Ador Torres Scores Round 4 TKO WIn in Thailand, Still ABF-147 Champ
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada vs. Yokasta Valle Championship Doubleheader
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Pagaduan to face Bubpamalo on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Andrew Moloney-Pedro Guevara Interim Junior Bantamweight Title Showdown Confirmed as New Co-Feature to Lomachenko-Kambosos Super Fight at RAC Arena in Perth & LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • CBN Promotions Expands Broadcast Reach with Addition of Stadium and Gray Television as Distribution Partners
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Daya, Paulino rule OCR
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Wild, Wild Western Conference
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada-Yokasta Valle Doubleheader Set for Friday
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM BIG TIME BOXING USA IN DETROIT
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Undefeated Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes to Attend Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson Fight Eyes Potential Showdown with Winner
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PACE to host FIDE chess tilt this weekend
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Preserving a Legacy: The Birth of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Garcia vs Haney: Boxing Match or A Live Mental Break Down?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Christian Mbilli-Mark Heffron Super Middleweight Main Event & Arslanbek Makhmudov-Junior Fa Heavyweight Battle Set for May 25 at Gervais Auto Center in Shawinigan, Canada
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • MATÍAS MAKES HOMECOMING DEFENSE AGAINST PARO ON JUNE 15
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • ‘ROCKY’ HERNANDEZ RETURNS AGAINST LUGO IN MEXICO ON MAY 11
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PCAP: Cavite eyeing to bounce back
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • HALL OF FAMER ANN WOLFE TO ATTEND 2024 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Gathering of champions
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Filipinos AJ Paciones and Ador Torres Make Weight for Title Fights in Highland Boxing Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Visiting Teams All Won vs Hosts; Boston Finally Loses
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Lukas to face undefeated Jaiklom on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024




  •  



     
    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
    © 2024 philboxing.com.