GOMEZ SAYS BANAL VS HERRERA MAY STEAL THE SHOW

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Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez says the IBF junior bantamweight eliminator for the No. 1 ranking between two undefeated, hard-hitting southpaws AJ ?Bazooka? Banal and Caril Herrera will ?probably be the fight of the night and may end up stealing the show? at the exciting ?Invasion ? Philippines vs The World? fight card Sunday morning at the famous Araneta Coliseum, the ?Mecca? of Philippine sports and entertainment.

Gomez said Herrera is tough and strong and very aggressive but that Banal ?is the same way. He is getting better every time out and I have always felt that among all the young fighters and all the young prospects in the Philippines he reminds me the most of Manny Pacquiao.?

He said Banal has that ?same explosive style, fast hands, great power and this may be the best real test of his career.

The Golden Boy executive conceded that they were working on getting ?Boom Boom? Bautista?s confidence back? after his knockout loss to WBO champion Daniel Ponce De Leon last August 11. Gomez emphasized that ?physically he has always been a very good fighter but mentally that?s what we are working on right now. Trying to get him that confidence back.?

Gomez said Bautista?s WBO Intercontinental title fight against Genaro Camargo of Mexico ?is not going to be an easy fight because Mexicans always give a good fight no matter what their record is and they have ?so much pride, just like the Filipino fighters.? Camargo said he is ?here to win. I?m gonna win. So Bautista is going to have to bring his ?A? game but I think its very important in his development. A year from now we are hoping he will fight for the title once again.?

Gomez said the Philippines is probably the epicenter of boxing ?in all the world. There?s so much excitement about boxing here it really is a hotspot. Filipinos are some of the best fans I ever had the privilege of witnessing myself when I come out here. They show so much support, it doesn?t matter whether you are Filipino or Mexican or any other country. They love boxing and they support good fighters.?

Top photo: AJ Banal of the Philippines (L) and Caril Herrera of Uruguay face off during today's weighin at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City. Photo by Dr. Ed de la Vega.