FOLLOWING a disheartening loss to Rafael Con-cepcion for the interim World Boxing Organization super flyweight crown last July 26, young ALA Gym standout AJ ?Bazooka? Banal is hungrier than ever. He will be facing Indonesian champion Nouldy Ma-nakane in his comeback fight on Jan. 31 in Tagbi-laran City.
Banal has been training hard in the ALA Gym these past few months. He aches for a comeback from his first career loss.
?He?s been preparing well for this fight. After his loss in July, he wanted to fight in September, but we didn?t allow it because he still wasn?t mentally prepared. He also wanted to fight in December, but we had no promotion because of the holidays.
Now, he is very focused and is excited to go back to the ring. He was inspired by Pacquiao?s win over de La Hoya,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Training
The 20-year-old Cebuano boxer has been sparring with ALA Gym fighters, like Z ?The Dream? Gorres, Jomanz Omanz and Hilario ?Bon Jovi? Canillas.
Aldeguer said that Banal has been training against different fighting styles, including parrying dirty tricks, which allegedly were among the reasons he lost to Concepcion.
?He has been preparing for different fighters? styles. We assure the boxing fans that he has learned a lot from his loss. He has now learned how to react to different opponent styles,? explained the Cebuano promoter.
This comeback fight will be very crucial for Banal?s young career because it would dictate his bout in March in Dubai.
?This fight is very important for AJ?s career because we have to know where he is right now,? said Aldeguer. ?His performance in January will dictate his opponent in March,? he added.
Maturity
Aldeguer also feels that Banal must show his maturity in this fight because he believes that having a return bout from a loss is a very difficult task for a young fighter.
?He is one of the most talented fighters we?ve had in the past 30 years. He needs the maturity and how to understand the plan and execute it at the right time,? said Aldeguer.
Banal will be moving a class higher, from the super flyweight category to the bantamweight class, because he has already outgrown his former weight division.
?AJ is big for his weight class. Now he feels stronger in his new weight,? said Aldeguer.
Banal has a professional boxing record of 17 wins, a loss, and a draw, with 14 knockouts, while Manakane has a 17-7-1 boxing slate with eight knockouts and has fought the likes of former world title contenders Hussein Hussein and Pramuansak Posuwan.
