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Banal's Opponent Esau Gaona is a Tough Los Mochis Hombre

PhilBoxing.com




Reigning Mexican Pacific Coast super flyweight champion Esau Gaona loves ?riazo,? a very popular activity among youth of Los Mochis where they park their cars along Leyva Boulevard in the downtown area to listen to music. In Gaona, the fun-loving spirit of Mexicans is very much alive.

This love for fun blends very well with their seriousness in their crafts. For Gaona, boxing is dead serious. And so for many boxers sweating out in this coastal city of northern Sinaloa, Mexico, which spewed already three world champions?Ivan ?Olimpico? Solano, Humberto ?La Zorrita? Soto, and most recently Fernando ?Cochulito? Montiel. Soto was a former WBC Youth featherweight champion and is currently holding the WBC interim featherweight title when he defeated Rocky Juarez in 2005. Montiel is the reigning WBO super flyweight king after he defeated Pedro Alcazar by technical KO in 2002. Alcazar died two days after the fight for brain injury.

Gaona, a fearsome knockout artist in his own right, has dropped to the mat three contenders in the first round. He has amassed 16 wins in his 20 career fights, and six by way of knockout. He is also a sturdy warrior who has benefited from his practice rounds with famous Mexican champions. He is currently a sparring partner of the hard-hitting ?Cochulito? for his upcoming Oct 6 fight.

His brawl with Boholano Along Denoy in 2006 was a barn burner. Denoy staggered Gaona in the first round by a short right, followed by a shot that shook him to his heels in the second round. But Gaona came back roaring at Denoy. Their rampage ended when the referee called the fight when the gush over Gaona?s left eye won?t stop in the 4th round. He snatched in August the Mexican Pacific Coast super flyweight title by knocking down Felipe Acosta twice and stopped him for good in round 4.

Now, Gaona is set to take his first shot at the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth super flyweight crown against another first-bidder but formidable ALA Gym jewel AJ ?Bazooka? Banal. Banal has a defeatless record, short of legendary, in his still young carrier of two years and 14 fights. And the crowd would know who will remain standing when the dust of battle settles in the ring on Sept 30 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Lahug, Cebu City.

In a strong Mexican bond, Gaona will see his bid for the crown with Lugo Manuel Montiel, the older brother of Fernando Montiel. Manuel Montiel was a very critical factor in maintaining the focus and motivation of Fernando Montiel during his fight against Z Gorres early this year. With the older Montiel in his side, Gaona would have an ace on his side that Banal may fight hard to get away with.




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