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Philippines, 24 Jan 2026 |
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BAZOOKA EXPLODES LOUDER THAN BOOM BOOM (WITH PHOTOS) By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Wed, 05 Dec 2007  Now enter Alex John ?AJ? Banal who is nicknamed ?Bazooka? from the legendary Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez due to the explosive guns in his fists. He is being eyed by the Golden Boy Promotions as a great potential. His star shone brighter and his artillery exploded louder than that of main eventer Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista during the ?Payback? at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday. Boxing fans were dismayed by Bautista?s failure to KO Antonio ?Barrio? Meza. While the crowd roared in approval on Banal as his challenger was floored by his blazing guns. It was one great moment when a Filipino displayed superior strength against a visiting fighter from Mexico, the country we consider now as our arch-rival in boxing supremacy. Banal unwearyingly waited for the right time to connect and saw the opportunity by sending Jovanny Soto to the canvas by a counter right hook in round 9. Soto was up before the count of 10. Banal then unleashed his frenzied battering fists on the helpless Mexican that prompted the referee to stop the fight. Banal was in total control of the battle using his excellent swiftness and footwork. In the early rounds Banal castigated Soto with straight lefts before ramming his foe with bodyshots and crunching hooks. Banal is undefeated, improved his record to 16-0-1 with 13 KOs, while Soto dropped to 25-8-2 with 20 KOs. Banal was born December 28, 1988, and is a southpaw boxer from Ermita, Cebu City. His uncle Roselito Campa?a, an ex-boxer, aroused his interest in boxing. He turned professional and during his pro debut on June 11, 2005 he ended up with a draw against Sonny Saguing. Since then, it was 16 straight wins for the fighter from ALA Gym. PHOTOS:        His first US exposure was last May 5, 2007 when he won against Juan Alberto Rosas by unanimous decision in eight rounds at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. During the bout, he was deducted one point for a low blow, but it did not affect his lead over his Mexican foe. Another Mexican who suffered defeat from the raging hands of the ?Bazooka? was Jorge Cardenas, whom he disposed of in three rounds. The referee called off the fight when Cardenas twisted his ankle, as he was knocked down, and was unable to continue last August 11, 2007 in Sacramento, California. Banal made a swift breathtaking dumping of Essau Gaona of Mexico to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth super flyweight title. Banal sent Gaona 3 times to the canvas with powerful left straight to the jaw, before the referee have seen enough and stopped the fight just in the first round. The bout was held in his hometown at Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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