AJ Banal?s future in the US is looking bright.
Banal seemed headed for another disappointment after Floyd Mayweather?s July 18 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez was postponed. Banal was supposed to be in the undercard of that fight against a still to be determined foe.
Now that the fight is back on, Banal could get two fights in the US?that is, if his handlers are successful in their negotiations?one in July and the other in September.
After the postponement of the Mayweather Jr vs. Marquez fight card, International matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz has been working on two play dates for Banal.
?I have talked to Sampson and we?re trying to work on a July date,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu. ?There?s no concrete plan as of the moment but we?re also working for a September fight,? he added.
The Mayweather vs. Marquez card was originally scheduled on July 18 but was moved to Sept. 19 after the former pound-for-pound king suffered a rib injury while training.
Banal was supposed to be in a world title fight against World Boxing Organization super flyweight titlist Jose Lopez on July 18 but ALA Promotions declined the offer because they believe the 19-year-old pride of Ermita has already outgrown the 115-pound limit. Before the postponement, the promoters were shopping for a fighter against Banal.
July fight
Although nothing is definite about Banal fighting in the scheduled dates, the ALA fighter is still training at the Wild Card Gym under boxing coach Freddie Roach.
?He?s still preparing for a fight in July,? said Aldeguer.
Banal moved up a weight division higher after suffering his first career loss to Panamanian Rafael Concepcion by a 10th round stoppage last year in their interim World Boxing Association super flyweight title tussle at the Cebu Colisuem.
