Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BANAL, CONCEPCION BATTLE FOR WBA CROWN TODAY


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU CITY--Unbeaten Filipino AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Panama's Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion will do battle for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) superfly interim championship today at the 10,000-capacity New Cebu Coliseum here.

The event, sanctioned by the WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, is presented by ALA Promotions, ABS-CBN, Golden Boy Promotions and the Cebu City government.

Banal came in at a perfect 115 lbs during official weigh-in held yesterday at the SM City Cebu, while Concepcion had to frantically shake off a pound before making the official weight.

The event has the boxing community abuzzed, noting that if Banal wins the crown, he will become the third youngest Filipino to win a world title, edging out superstar Manny Pacquiao who will scale down to fourth.

If Concepcion wins the title, he will become only the third Panamanian to win the WBA crown in the Philippines, next only to Alfonso Lopez and Hilario Zapata.

Lopez and Zapata have come to the Philippines to beat Filipino fighters in a WBA-sanctioned event. Lopez TKO'd Erbito Salavarria in the 15th round to claim the WBA flyweight crown in 1976. Ten years later, Zapata decisioned Dodie Boy Penalosa to claim the same WBA flyweight belt at the University of Life Stadium in Manila.

However, Dodie Penalosa, who attended yesterday's weigh-in to show support to Banal, said that his fight against Zapata and the Banal-Concepcion fight will be a very different fight scenario.

"When I fought Zapata, that was the first time that I fought as a flyweight. And that was the first time that I fought an opponent who ran a lot, ducked too low, and clinched too strong," said Penalosa in an exclusive interview at the weigh-in.

Penalosa sees a definitive victory by Banal, noting that style differences will showcase the best of the young Cebuano fighter.

"This fight will showcase the best of AJ Banal, because he is fighting a bullstrong opponent, who is not known to use the ring. Banal's counter-punching, and ability to move, will win the fight for him," Penalosa predicts.

Meanwhile, Japan's top boxing promoter Akihiko Honda yesterday congratulated both Banal and Concepcion for their WBA interim championship showdown.

In a long-distance call to international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, Honda congratulated the two fighters and wished them the best of luck.

Honda will promote the WBA superfly regular championship between Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono in September, with the winners of today's fight and the September tussle expected to meet not later than December 15.

In the undercard, Milan Melindo stepped in at 108 lbs on the first try but Panamanian Carlos Melo was 3/4 pound overweight on the first try, 1/4 pound over on the second try but finally got the required weight of 108 lbs on the third try an hour after. Melindo and Melo will duke it out for the WBA Intercontinental Light Flyweight title.

Michael Domingo and Indonesian Rivo Ringkung who will fight for the WBO Oriental Bantamweight title, made weight on the first try. Domingo came in at 117 1/2 lbs while Ringkung came in at 116 1/4 lbs.

The other match-ups and their weights: James Bacon - 127 1/2 lbs. vs Skak Max 126 1/2 lbs; Jun Intor - 119 lbs. vs Roldan Malinao 120 1/4 lbs; Robert Allanic - 125 lbs (second try) vs Leonardo Doronio - 124 lbs; Hilario Canillas - 122 1/2 lbs vs Ramil Cabalan - 120 lbs.

Top photo: AJ 'Bazooka' Banal of the Philippines (R) and Rafael 'El Torito' Concepcion of Panama face off after yesterday's weighin at the SM City-Cebu.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.