| |
|
BANAL OUTBOXES BERANZA
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Aug 2009
The title of this article would seem strange to those who have religiously followed the career of AJ Banal.
The Bazooka from Ermita, Cebu City is known for mercilessly blasting his opponents. But the ALA gym southpaw showed another side of his game by using lateral movement, feints and employing defense against the tough Mexican Jose Angel Beranza (32-15-2, 25 KOs).
Banal (20-1-1, 15 KOs) launched his combinations and body shots behind a busy right jab. He circled effectively from trouble and utilized head movement to avoid being caught. I actually thought I was watching his stable mate Z Gorres.
But Beranza was tough like most Mexicans and took Banal?s best shots and continued to charge forward to land some of his own. Except for the ninth round where they bled from head butts and Banal was deducted a point for punching low, his victory was never in doubt. Beranza made one last stand in the tenth and pushed Banal down twice.
Banal easily escaped from trouble and won a unanimous ten round decision. The judges? scores were 99-92, 98-91 and 98-92. The fight was held in the undercard of the Brian Viloria-Jesus Iribe IBF jr.flyweight title bout in Hawaii where Viloria retained his crown by unanimous decision.
This is Banal?s third win this year. He has had two easy knockout wins over Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia and Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania. The 20 year old Banal needs more battle hardened opponents like Beranza so that he can mature as a fighter.
Last year, Banal was leading on the scorecards then ran out of gas and subsequently stopped by Panama?s Rafael Concepcion in the 10th round of their WBA interim superflyweight title fight in Cebu City.
If AJ continues to win, we may get to see him get another world title crack next year as a bantamweight.
Top photo: AJ 'Bazooka' Banal (L) of the Philippines connects with a left uppercut on Jose Angel Beranza of Mexico during their 10-round bantanweight bout at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii Saturday night. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
, Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
, Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
, Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
, Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
