Philippines, 12 Jun 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:

  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Casimero still rocking
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Dalton Smith receives inaugural WBC Ricky Hatton Legacy Belt in front of thousands in Mancheste
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Stacey King three time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • FM Daluz sweeps 10th AQ Prime chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Llover vows comeback
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 08 Jun 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.