AJ Banal?s collapse in the tenth round of the interim WBA world super flyweight title bout against Rafael Concepcion was a big disappointment to Filipino fight fans, especially those who watched it live at the New Cebu City Coliseum. Some of them actually booed him rudely after the bout, wherein the spent 19-year old was helped back to his corner after being decked in the last 30 seconds of the round.
Banal was doing spectacularly well in the first rounds. He was jabbing well, and throwing a double left hook to the body that had Concepcion holding even when he wasn?t really hurt. It later turned out to be part of Concepcion?s strategy to outlast his younger opponent.
Concepcion, ranked 7th by the WBA and fighting outside Panama for the first time after going through a rigorous training program in Brooklyn, New York, was throwing his trademark wide hook shots, consistently telegraphing them but connecting quite often. ?El Torito? or ?The Baby Bull? lived up to his name, using his head as a prod against the former Philippine youth champion, even after getting his nose bloodied in the opening round. He just kept on charging, even on at least three occasions when he was on the verge of being separated from his senses. He took everything Banal had to dish out.
In three of the first four rounds Banal ? a southpaw ? looked well in control, even repeatedly stepping on Concepcion?s lead foot and keeping him from avoiding contact. Banal had actually been deducted a point in the first round for hitting his opponent after the bell. Concepcion, who left Panama and his wife and nine-month old daughter to train for and fight in the card dubbed ?Laban na Banal: Panahon na?, relentlessly pushed the fight to Banal. It was a dangerous maneuver, since Banal had 14 knockouts on his unblemished, 17-win slate.
Starting the sixth round, the large volume of body blows Concepcion chopped into Banal?s sides started exacting their toll. Bazooka?s power started slipping away. He was unable to prevent Concepcion from raking his sides with blows, even when Concepcion was holding onto an arm.
In the tenth round, he was just allowing Concepcion to hit him downstairs. Pinned in a neutral corner, he took two big rights and went down on one knee, looking forlornly at his corner. Even when referee Raul Caiz briefly stopped the count to order Concepcion back into a neutral corner, Banal made no effort to get up. He was counted out, his first defeat ever, at the 2:35 mark of the tenth round.
Many are asking why the fight suddenly ended the way it did. There are many reasons.
First of all, Banal has been used to stoppages, with six of his previous seven bouts ending prematurely. He repeatedly had Concepcion hanging on for dear left, only to watch him catch his breath and recover.
Was Banal in great shape for the fight, or did he peak too early?
One of the television producers who supervised the shoot of television plugs for the fight about three weeks ago was surprised to see Banal?s chiseled abdomen. She asked him when he was going to hit his fighting weight. He said he already had. That meant that he had no more weight to lose at that point.
This also signified that Banal would not be able to work as hard as he would have had this difficulty not been discovered. Was Banal over training? Even though Concepcion had to run around and sit in a hot, exposed car for over an hour to shed 3/4 of a pound, he seemed stronger at the end of the fight.
Also, why didn?t Banal clinch when the going got tough? He could have survived the tenth round, and just danced away the last two rounds. He was leading on all three judges? scorecards. He was covering his head when his opponent was throwing barrages under his ribs.
Another telling flaw was Banal?s inability to fight while moving backward. Whenever he would charge Concepcion, the Panamanian would backpedal while still throwing leather. Banal didn?t do the same, allowing El Torito to gore his sides.
Lastly, Banal looked at his corner for a signal what to do. He didn?t bother to rise and hold. Like I said, there were only 25 seconds left in the round; he could have made it through.
Concepcion will fight the winner of an elimination bout between two Japanese for the permanent belt. Banal will now have a hard time fighting locals. At 19, he will get another shot at a world title. This one came suddenly. Given the polish he already had, he will address his weaknesses and emerge a stronger, better fighter.
The Bazooka will be back. Soon.
