| |
|
BANAL EXCITED TO MEET DE LA HOYA!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Mar 2007
A few hours from now, ALA Boys Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista and Alex John 'Bazooka' Banal, together with trainer Edito Villamor, will be flying out to Los Angeles for their training.
A week later, they will join Oscar De la Hoya and trainer Freddie Roach in Puerto Rico.
But for the US first-timer Banal, this trip is the result of long years of hard-work and sweat, and he says he is enjoying every bit of the moment.
"I am very, very, very excited in my first trip to America. Now, I am going to finally step into my dream," said the likeable 18-year-old, who is undefeated as a pro fighter.
Banal grew up in the squatters' area in Ermita, and making it to the United States is indeed a dream-come-true.
Of course, the cherry on the icing would have to be meeting his boyhoold idol Oscar De la Hoya, in fact, he will not only be meeting the Golden Boy, but he will be training with him as well.
"His eyes would light up everytime I mention Oscar's name. Imagine, he will be training with Oscar, the guy whom Banal would only see on television years past," said trainer Villamor.
According to Villamor, a group of sparmates have already been prepared in Puerto Rico for both Bautista and Banal, to make sure they get their quality sparring sessions for their May 5 assignments.
"Banal is very happy and excited for this trip. I can't begin to describe how motivated he is for this," added Villamor.
The trio will leave on a PAL flight PR 102 that departs at 10 tonight.
Happy trip to the ALA Team!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
, Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
, Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
, Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
, Tue, 10 Feb 202619-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
, Tue, 10 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
, Sun, 08 Feb 2026Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
, Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
, Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
, Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
