AJ Banal will be in for one of his toughest fights in his next assignment.
Banal, who lost to Rafael Concepcion in 2008, will face former world champion Luis Alberto Perez in a 10-round bout.
ALA Promotions, Banal?s handler, has reached a deal with the camp of the former International Boxing Federation super flyweight and bantamweight titleholder. However, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer is still pondering where to stage bout.
?Perez already signed the contract. It may happen in Dubai or in Cebu,? Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.
Banal was supposed to join ALA Promotions? Oct. 29 event in Dubai but Aldeguer is considering staging it in Cebu City to give Banal a chance to fight in front of his fans.
Banal, 22-1-1 with 18 knockouts, is currently doing conditioning training. He is also improving his upper body strength under trainer Edmund Villamor and conditioning coach Pio Solon.
?Perez will be AJ?s biggest fight. Perez has fought name fighters and he is a veteran. AJ has to make a statement in this fight,? said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer believes the 32-year-old Nicaraguan will be the biggest test in Banal?s career and a win could lead to another title shot.
Perez, 26-4 with 17 knockouts, won the IBF title in 2003 after beating Venezuelan Felix Machado by split decision. He defended his title thrice before relinquishing it.
He won the IBF bantamweight crown in 2007 with a seventh-round stoppage of Genaro Garcia but lost it to Joseph Agbeko two months later.
