After two south-of-the-border opponents were scratched, superflyweight prospect A. J. Banal wondered if Mexico had run out of fighters willing to face him in the ring.
But Las Vegas matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz finally found a daring warrior in Mexican Pacific Coast champion Esau Gaona who?s flying in next week to battle the undefeated Banal of Corella, Bohol, for the WBO youth 115-pound title at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City, on Sept. 30.
ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer told The STAR the other day it was Lewkowicz who came to the rescue when Jovanny (Bambino) Soto and Genaro (Duro) Camargo were scratched from the Waterfront card. Soto, the first choice as Banal?s opponent, backed out for unclear reasons. Camargo violated the terms of the fight contract by taking on Carlos Yanez a few weeks ago.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani, in a press statement, said ?the WBO decreed Camargo disqualified to fight Banal for violating the contract preventing both fighters from fighting before the contracted fight.? Camargo previously agreed to cancel the bout against Yanez for the opportunity to take on Banal but went ahead anyway. Gello-ani said it was a blessing in disguise since Camargo wouldn?t have been much of a test for Banal, considering his knockout loss to Yanez.
Gaona, 25, has won his last three outings, two inside the distance, and his record is 10-3, with six KOs, including four in the first round. A certified blood-and-guts brawler, Gaona starts out smoking in every fight ? which is why six of his 13 bouts ended in the opening round. For Gaona, it?s either he wins by knockout or is counted out trying.
Banal won?t be Gaona?s first Filipino opponent. Last year, Gaona met Along Denoy in Las Vegas. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the match in the fourth round because of a cut suffered by Gaona from an accidental headbutt. The fight was declared no-contest.
Aldeguer said Lewkowicz found Gaona in WBO superflyweight champion Fernando Montiel?s camp. Gaona is Montel?s chief sparmate and stablemate.
Only last month, Gaona stopped Felipe Acosta to win the Mexican Pacific Coast crown in Los Mochis. Gaona survived a knockdown in the fourth round to floor Acosta twice before ending it at 0:46 of the sixth. He beat his two previous opponents Fred Valdez and Juan Aboyte. The downside is the records of Acosta, Valdez and Aboyte were a combined 3-41.
Gaona turned pro in 1999, saw action only once from 2001 to 2004 then came back with a bang to log five fights in 2006 and three so far this year. A win over Banal will somewhat soften the impact of Mexico?s defeat to the Philippines in the World Cup in Sacramento last month. Banal was one of five Filipinos to beat Mexicans for the coveted World Cup, symbolic of a country?s supremacy in pro boxing. He halted Jorge Cardenas in the third round. Cardenas twisted his ankle when he was knocked down and couldn?t continue, prompting referee Jack Reiss to call it a night.
Banal, 18, has victimized two Mexicans so far, Cardenas and Juan Alberto Rosas.
Aldeguer said he?s not rushing Banal into a world title fight.
?We?re being very patient,? said Aldeguer. ?A. J.?s only 18. He?s still a little raw. It?s not yet time for him to fight for the world title. But it will come sooner or later. We want him to gain more experience and polish his skills some more.?
Banal turned pro two years ago and has compiled a 14-0 record, with 11 KOs.
If Banal defeats Gaona, Aldeguer said next in the schedule is a fight in a blockbuster Araneta Coliseum card proposed for December. Aldeguer said a financial consortium is now being organized by Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim to bankroll the card which will feature other ALA fighters Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and Z Gorres.
In another bout at the Waterfront, WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight titlist Robert Allanic of Mambaling, Cebu, defends his crown against Korea?s In Suk Song.
Allanic, 22, won the vacant WBO title via a seventh round stoppage over Chang Jae Kwon in Uijeongbu City last May. His record is 17-3, with eight KOs.
Song, 27, is nearly two inches taller than Allanic at 5-7 1/2 and will use the advantage to fend off the Filipino who?s known for his bell-to-bell style. The Korean has won his last five bouts, three by knockout ? all in the third round. His record is 8-2, with three KOs. Song is out to avenge his countryman Chang?s defeat to Allanic for the WBO crown.
The main event of the Waterfront card pits Donnie (Ahas) Nietes of Bacolod City against unbeaten Thai veteran Pornsawan Kratingdaeng-Gym for the vacant WBO minimumweight championship.
