WHETHER it be in the Philippines or in Thailand, one thing is for certain: AJ Banal won’t let the chance of a lifetime to become a world champion slip through his fingers ? again.
After dropping his biggest fight four years ago in a 10th round knockout loss to Rafael Concepcion for the interim World Boxing Association super flyweight belt, the 23-year-old Banal won’t let history repeat itself and is primed for war, even if the date or venue of his world title fight with Pungluang Sor Singyu is still indefinite as of the moment. ?For now, everything has been going well in AJ’s training camp for the world title fight. We only have a little adjustment because of the opponent. We are studying the opponent’s style, what his favorite punches are and his weaknesses,? ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Banal and Sor Singyu are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight strap in October.
ALA Promotions is currently on a back-and-forth battle against Thai-based promotional outfit One Songchai on where the fight should take place.
?We are working on the contract to be sent to One Songchai. Let’s just hope for the best,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said. ?It’s really 50-50, but we did all we could to bring the fight here. We will send our proposal to them today (yesterday). Hoping they will agree to all the terms.?
Aldeguer expects an answer from their Thai counterparts next week.
Villamor has already mapped out who to use as Banal’s sparring partners to mimic the different qualities of the 24-year-old Thai, who holds an impressive 42-1 slate with 27 knockouts. Among the sparring mates Villamor has in mind are Michael Domingo and Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista to train him for power, Mark Bernaldez for speed and Marjohn Yap and Roli Gasca for elusiveness.
If worse comes to worst and ALA Promotions loses its bid to promote the fight and it goes to Thailand, Villamor believes that Banal, 27-1-1 with 20 knockouts, must go for broke to bring home the crown.
?He has to be impressive and dominate, then go for the knockout if there is an opportunity,? he said. ?The opponent is skillful and tough but we have seen some of his weaknesses, which we are working on right now in training.?
