Philippines, 11 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NOT MUCH PINOY PRIDE ON BANAL'S WIN


PhilBoxing.com




Mixed reactions were raised by the audience at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Ballroom when referee Ver Abainza decided a disqualification on the former two-time world champion Luis Alberto Perez and ruled AJ Banal the winner at 1:46 of the seventh round. Part of the crowd got angry over the hostile punch thrown by Perez which was done when the referee was breaking the Nicaraguan onslaught on Banal.

Some fans who thought that Banal could have lost the bout, with the ALA pugilist already wobbly and on the verge of repeating history of his first loss to Rafael Concepcion, were discontented of the way the bout was halted.

True Pinoy Pride was evident in the victory of Mark Jason Melligen over Mexican Bladimir Hernandez at 2:57 of the third round. Hernandez appeared unprepared and unfit for the fight as the US-trained Melligen castigated him right from the start.

Jason Pagara made us Pinoys very proud of a second round stoppage of Thai boxer Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat who could not withstand the blazing guns of the Cagayan de Oro native.

But the Banal controversial win sent many minds thinking what could have happened to Banal if there would have been no extra punches and thereby no disqualification. Experts believed that Banal wanted to stop the fight early by fighting a near flawless first six rounds. But Perez seemed indestructible with all the blows to the head and to the body unleashed by the artillery of the Bazooka.

The veteran former champion in El Demoledor packed so much courage and determination amidst the predominantly hostile crowd cheering for the local hero. His face had been a target of too many Bazooka blows occasionally turning to his torso, but the Latino boxer with a ponytail surprised everyone in the arena by retaliating earlier in the seventh round with flurries that dazed the Cebuano and forced him to clinch for his life.

When he was interviewed by Dyan Castillejo, Banal wanted a rematch to ease the cloud of doubt in his victory. But the way Banal again lost steam in the later rounds, he was destined to the same predicament if a rematch takes place. AJ has to pack so much air and condition himself too well to preserve the much needed gas if the match could go again to the full distance.

Postscript ? The day after the Pinoy Pride boxing card at the Waterfront, together with my wife Chona and sister Mabel, I joined the Citi Gym Half-Marathon sponsored by Waterfront Hotel and Casino. As beginning runners, we joined the 3K category for the race called ?A Halloween Run.?

Top photo: AJ Banal lies on the canvas after being hit by Perez (left, standing) with an illegal punch during their fight Oct. 30 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. Photo by King Catriz.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Casimero still rocking
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Dalton Smith receives inaugural WBC Ricky Hatton Legacy Belt in front of thousands in Mancheste
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Stacey King three time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • FM Daluz sweeps 10th AQ Prime chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Llover vows comeback
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.