THIS could be another Filipino star in the making.
AJ Banal of the Philippines fashioned out a grand debut in the US after scoring a unanimous decision win over Juan Alberto Rosas of Mexico Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Banal, nicknamed “Bazooka,” landed the heavier punches against Rosas in their super flyweight battle serving as one of the undercards of the Oscar dela Hoya-Floyd Mayweather junior middleweight showdown.
The 18-year-old Banal has never fought outside of the Philippines, but was outstanding in his first fight under the big lights of the Sin City.
The Filipino boxer won eight rounds and was ahead on the judges’ scorecards with 78-73, 78-73 and 76-3.
With the win, Banal, a southpaw, raised his record to 13-0 with 10 KOs.
Rosas dropped to 25-3 with 22 KOs. The defeat was his third straight. He earlier lost on points to Jose Lopez and Sergio Espinoza.
Banal is one of the young and promising fighters from the famous ALA Stable in Cebu.
Banal, together with Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, trained in Puerto Rico under Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s famed trainer, for his bout with Rosas.
The win over Rosas definitely boosted the stock of Banal and his handlers will be lining him up for bigger fights ahead. (CRAM)
