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Philippines, 23 Jan 2026 |
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BANAL FACES RUGGED MEXICAN IN BIG SMART SPORTS SINULOG FIGHT CARD By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Tue, 15 Dec 2009  World-rated AJ “Bazooka” Banal faces rugged Mexican Cecilio Santos in the big Smart Sports Sinulog fight card at the plush ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City on January 14. In a fight card that is expected to showcase the new ABC 5 and its entry into big-time boxing, Banal and undefeated WBO minimum weight No.1 ranked Milan Melindo will face worthy opponents that are certain to provide a stiff test for both world-rated Filipino stars of the famed ALA Gym. Santos’ record of 24-11-3 with 14 knockouts can be misleading because he fought a roster of champions no less than four times in world title fights including WBC bantamweight champion Veeeraphol, WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel, WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno and IBF super flyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov. Santos also held no less than five different regional titles. He also scored a 3rd round TKO over Dario Azuaga who went ten rounds with former two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa and scored a 7th round knockout over rugged Roberto Bonilla who had previously fought Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista. Santos is coming off a 1st round knockout victory over Cesar Martinez on Saturday and is bound to feel confident against the southpaw Banal who is rated No. 5 by the IBF and the WBA and No. 7 by the WBO. While boxing has always been part of the celebrations during the Sinulog week this will be the first time that Smart Sports and ABC 5 will team up to present a blockbuster fight card headlined by two of the most promising young Filipino fighters who are world-rated, alongside some of the country’s most exciting amateur finds. Undefeated 21 year old Milan “Melinyo” Melindo (19-0, 5 KO’s) who is ranked No.1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the WBA and IBF and No. 5 by the WBC in the minimum weight division will move up in weight to challenge 22 year old WBC Intercontinental Youth flyweight champion Anthony Villareal of the United States in the main event. Top photo: Smart's Patrick Gregorio (with mic) speaks during last night's presscon at the Sports Exchange Bar & Grill at Mango Square in Cebu City while (L-R) ALA President Michael Aldeguer, AJ Banal, Milan Melindo listen. Photo by Dong Secuya. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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