Plantation Bay, Lapu-Lapu City ? ALA Promotions has formally announced the seventh installment of the Pinoy Pride boxing series with WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight titleholder AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (24-1-1, 19 KOs) scheduled to face off with one of Canada?s most promising prospects, Tyson ?Prince of Hali? Cave (15-1, 5 KOs) on July 30th, 2011 at the new Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City. The Canadian fighter has started off in 2006 and has blitzed through the ranks and is now the reigning WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight champion.
ALA Promotions exuberant top dog, Michael Aldeguer, believes that Cave has issued the challenge with the thought of winning.
Banal, Domingo, and Villanueva gamely pose with the Cobra Energy Drink girls after the presscon.
?He (Cave) will come to fight and he believes AJ Banal is a stepping stone for him,? Aldeguer told the sports media.
Banal and his trainer, Coach Edmund Villamor, describes Cave?s pugilistic style similar to that of Muhammad Ali. But even with Cave?s fluid approach, they both believe that this is a winnable fight for Banal.
?I saw clips of him in Youtube and he moves a lot like Ali,? Banal said. ?But I will use pressure to beat him.?
I have been with similar boxers, Thais, and I beat them all,? Banal added.
For Villamor, the key to beating Cave is to cut his escape routes once his ward applies the pressure. ?We just have to cut the ring and force him to fight,? the venerable trainer said.
Banal is also looking forward to a rematch with Panamian Rafael Concepcion, the boxer who dealt Banal his only loss in his career. Concepcion once fought for two world titles (WBO and WBC) but was knocked out by Fernando Montiel in their title bout last year.
?I have Concepcion in my mind,? Banal said. ?I will beat Cave first, and then I would ask Concepcion for a rematch.?
Tyson Cave
On the undercard, undefeated slugger Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva (20-0, 19 KOs) and technician Michael ?Bruce Lee? Domingo (40-15-2, 15 KOs) will try to hold their ground against a pair of Indonesian fighters.
Villaneuva was scheduled to fight in Australia earlier this year but the bout was axed due to disagreement on neutrality. Asked if there is a possibility of Villanueva fighting on a bigger stage this year, Aldeguer said they would like to take things slow for the North Cotabato native.
?There are a lot of calls for a fight,? Aldeguer said. ?But I think it is best that we don?t rush Villanueva at this stage of his career. The big fights will come. His time will come.?
Pinoy Pride 7: Battle of Mactan will be held on July 30th, 2011 at the Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines.
Photo credits: PhilBoxing.com
