Philippines, 05 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BAZOOKA EXPLODES LOUDER THAN BOOM BOOM (WITH PHOTOS)


PhilBoxing.com




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.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.