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Philippines, 04 Feb 2026 |
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BANAL FACES NEW OPPONENT ON SEPT. 30 PhilBoxing.com Wed, 19 Sep 2007  Suspense heated up in the rivalry for the WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title on September 30 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Lahug. ALA Gym jewel AJ ?Bazooka? Banal would be facing a new formidable opponent to replace Genaro ?Duro? Camargo of Mexico. WBO has recently decreed Camargo disqualified to fight against AJ Banal for violating the contract preventing both fighters from fighting before the contracted date. This came to light with the recent defeat of Camargo by KO in the hands of Carlos ?El Salado? Yanez in the 3rd round. And the Mexican mandate to defeat Banal lies now in the hands of Esau Gaona (10-3-0, 6 KO), a Mexican Pacific Coast super flyweight champion after stopping Felipe Acosta in the 6th round on August 10. The Acosta encounter was a brawl. It was an exchange of hard fists testing the fighters? staying power. Gaona kissed the canvassed in the 4th round. Mad as he could get, Gaona returned on Acosta with fury, downing him in the 5th and 6th round where he finally turned over the game to Gaona for good. Gaona has a record of stopping pugs in the first round. Of his six knockouts, he dealt the canvas for good to five of his rivals. In 2000, he KO?d Mexicans Trinidad Ruiz and Francisco Paredes. And the succeeding years, he left a mark of defeats in his opponents before the first 3 minutes in the ring?Roberto Castro in 2005, Juan Mercedes in 2006, and then Acosta lately. It is not also the first time for Gaona to fight a Filipino, and incidentally an ALA Boy for that matter. On March 12, 2006, he fought Along Denoy (11-6-0) in the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. A 10-round non-title match, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight in the 4th round due to a cut suffered by Gaona. The fight was declared a technical draw under the Nevada rules. Now would be his new chance to challenge a Filipino warrior in the ring. If he defeats Banal, he would have the first Filipino pugilist under his belt. And yet Gaona will face a much more talented opponent in Banal. A deadly puncher, Banal has built an immaculate record of 14-0-1 with 11 KOs. Of his 11 knockouts, 3 came in the 1st round. Built in a sturdy Filipino body, his career spanning 2 years has shown a prizefighter who can take any fight another extra mile. His punching prowess has already stopped 2 Thais, an Indonesian, and 2 Mexicans. He rose to the world boxing scene when he defeated Juan Alberto Rosas of Mexico on May 5, and impressed the world when he stopped Jorge Cardenas by technical knockout 28 seconds in the 3rd round. Cardenas dropped to the canvass, twisted his ankle, and referee Jack Reiss called the fight as Cardenas could not continue. Seven years younger than Gaona, the 18-year-old Banal may have his short limited experience against him came the time to take Gaona in the ring. But that is something not to miss out come September 30. To ensure not missing this event, you may call 0917-325-3005 or 346-3489 for reservation. Tickets are available for VIP, Ringside, Ballroom, and Balcony at SM City Cebu and Ayala Center Cebu through USA Sports Boutique, Island Souvenirs Boutique, Bisaya Ispisyal Boutique, ALA Gym Banilad Town Center, and Cebu Waterfront Hotel & Casino.  |
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