A NIGHT of all-out action ended in an anticlimactic fashion with AJ ?Bazooka? Banal finishing off Mexican Raul Hidalgo in just a single round after referee Danrex Tapdasan quickly went in between them to stop the fight.
Banal (27-1-1, 20 KOs) unloaded a devastating left hook to the head that knocked the senses out of Hidalgo (16-6, 12 KOs) in last Saturday night?s main event of Pinoy Pride 13?Road to Glory at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. After receiving the vicious blow, the 23-year-old Mexican continued to punch but his legs wobbled awkwardly and his head was facing down. To save Hidalgo, Tapdasan quickly intervened and waived the fight off in 2:29 of the first round.
The referee?s decision had mixed reactions from the crowd, and some thought it came too early. However, Tapdasan firmly stood his ground that he did the right call.
?The fight shouldn?t continue because his legs were wobbling and shaking. I?m not a doctor but he was in a convulsion and it?s a dangerous situation. He wasn?t himself and he was punching me and the punches were really weak. One more strong punch and it could lead to a coma. The safety of the boxer should come first before entertainment,? Tapdasan said.
Hidalgo, who was for a moment disoriented by the debilitating haymaker, felt that the referee stepped in too soon.
?The referee should have counted. I?m mad because it was stopped. Banal doesn?t hit hard,? said the young Mexican prospect.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer felt that the stoppage was the discretion of the referee.
?I don?t know if it was the right call. He (Hidalgo) looked a bit weird. It?s a judgment call,? he said.
Aldeguer said that it?s likely that Banal will be challenging for the World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown this year. But Banal?s title fight depends on the decision of current titleholder Jorge Arce.
If Arce, who is slated to see action in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley fight, decides to move up a different weight division and leave the bantamweight title vacant, then No. 1-rated Banal and No. 2-ranked Thai Pungluang Sor Singyu face off for the belt. But if Arce decides to stay in the division and keep his belt, then Banal is taking on another opponent before trading leathers with the Mexican world champion.
?I?m ready for a world title fight. I?m ready for anyone they place in front of me,? said Banal.
Rocky Fuentes (33-6-2, 20 KOs) had the crowd on their feet as he scored a picture-perfect knockout over Mexican youngster Javier Franco (19-7-1, 10 KOs).
The 26-year-old Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight king landed a precise counter right hook to the head that put Franco to sleep in the 52-second mark of the sixth round.
Albert Pagara (11-0, 9 KOs) continued his unbeaten rampage as he battered Thai Phupha Por Nobnom (10-8-1, 9 KOs) in just two rounds. The 18-year-old Filipino prospect stopped Por Nobnom with a bone-crushing right straight to the head in the 2:38 mark.
Unbeaten up-and-comer Arthur Villanueva (18-0, 12 KOs) escaped a unanimous decision over tough veteran Re Migreno (15-19-3, 13 KOs) in eight rounds of non-stop action.
All the judges gave it 76-73, 77-74 and 76-74 all in favor of Villanueva.
