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PhilBoxing Forum Featured Topic: Meeting AJ 'BAZOOKA' BANAL Up Close PhilBoxing.com Fri, 13 Apr 2007 Posted by GoodSuccess: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:34 pm Last year, I was really deep into boxing, local boxing at that. I couldn’t believe that I would be on this enthusiastically. I found myself watching local boxing cards held in Mandaue Coliseum. On one occasion I was obliged to watch a boxing card featuring the likes of Z Gorrez, Mark Milleguen, and a relatively upcoming boxer, AJ Banal. Being uninformed about Cebu local boxing scene at that time, my friend Yethbo was kind enough to give me information about every boxer in the featured card. I remember my friend has good words for one boxer, AJ Banal….AJ “BAZOOKA” BANAL. As I was watching the matches, my attention then focused on the young boxer AJ. Perhaps through the prodding’s of my friend Yethbo, A.J. got my full attention. That night, AJ is fighting a tough Indon veteran boxer who waylaid 10 Filipino boxers in accomplishing a very respectable boxing record. For awhile, I was worried for AJ in fighting Angky Angkota this early in his career. On the aftermath of the fight, AJ won convincingly against the grizzled boxer Angkota, who also gave his all to win. I can recall the combination punches each pug unleashed. It was a furious encounter between two above averaged skill pugilist. I enjoyed the night and went home satisfied with the P400 I spent for the tickets. On the way home my mind was curious about AJ. How the hell can a meek 19 year old guy punch so hard and fight gallantly? I rated AJ that time as extraordinary boxer in his class. I was toying on the idea that this kid will go places with his talent. From that time, I haven’t heard any news about AJ, except that he won another fight by knock out and that he would be sent to the U.S. for training at the wild card gym. Unfortunately nothing came out of that U.S. plans for training. February of 2007, was the scheduled fight for Z GORREZ and still no news about AJ. On the night of the GORREZ /MONTIEL FIGHT, AJ knocked out his Thai foe in the very first round. That win was spectacular enough to get the attention of GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS executives. AJ stole the limelight from the other boxers that night. Last month I had the rare chance of meeting AJ up close. It was during an aid-giving occasion by the Cebu Pacs to the Mandaue fire victims. We begun to exchange pleasantries and I started to admire the person in AJ. He even told me that on his last fight against the Thai, it was his intention to KO his foe in the first round. He added that the Thai boxer previously knockout his uncle in a fight inThailand. So that explains everything. That was a Saturday when we meet and the next day, together with his coach, Edito Villamor and Rey “Boomboom” Bautista are set to fly to the U.S. And thereafter, proceed to Puerto Rico to train side by side with the legendary Oscar DeLa Hoya. I feel the simpleness in AJ but at the same time I can see the fire burning in his heart. That fire is his ambition to be somebody in the world of boxing. AJ is an aura of humility, but don’t be mislead because inside AJ I can clearly see a CHAMPION. Having these visions of AJ, I felt obligated to remind him how to become a CHAMPION, through my own perception. I was glad he listened to me. Yesterday, as I read the news about what AJ has done to the nose of a PUERTO RICAN lightweight sparring mate, I could only say to myself……Watch out for AJ "BAZOOKA" BANAL!!! Go to topic: http://forum.philboxing.com/viewtopic.php?t=69493&sid=13  |
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