IBF ASSURES BANAL WILL BE RATED NO. 1

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International Boxing Federation (IBF) Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker has assured Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that undefeated AJ ?Bazooka? Banal will be ranked No. 1 in the super flyweight division in the May ratings.

Tucker said he thinks Banal ?may have missed the cut-off date? for the April ratings but ?will show up as No.1 in the May ratings.?

Banal earned the No. 1 spot following his impressive fourth round TKO over previously unbeaten Latino champion Caril Herrera of Uruguay in the ?Invasion? Philippines vs The World? fight card at the Araneta Coliseum last April 6.

Tucker also confirmed that Banal will be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the title fight between IBF super flyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov and former IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia.

Tucker told us ?unfortunately he (Banal) must wait until that fight (Kirilov-Darchinyan) is completed. He will then be the mandatory for the winner but will have to wait nine months before he fights for the title.?

Earlier, WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman said Banal ?fought very well? against Herrera who was ranked No. 2 by the WBC behind champion Christian Mijares and No. 1 Jorge Arce. Sulaiman said the Filipino southpaw will ?definitely break into the ratings. No question about that.? Banal is currently rated No. 6 by the WBA, will now move from No. 7 to No. 1 in the IBF ratings and is No. 4 in the WBO.

Darchinyan, the cocky Australian who suffered a stunning one-punch knockout at the hands of Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire last July 7 and fought Z ?The Dream? Gorres to a controversial draw in an IBF eliminator in Cebu City earned the mandatory shot at Kirilov despite the draw because he was rated higher than Gorres.

Respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym said he was ?in no hurry? to have Banal fight for the title and said he was interested in having the teenaged southpaw ?break into the No. 1 spot? and had even asked OPBF president Frank Quill to help improve Banal?s rating in the WBC where he was No. 13 in the most recent ratings while Caril Herrera whom he annihilated was No. 2.