Philippines, 21 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:

  • Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • The Highly Anticipated  Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A  USA Boxing Amateur Show
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • 12-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 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.