AJ ?Bazooka? Banal?s future in boxing may be in limbo but ALA Promotions isn?t giving up on one of their most talented and promising boxers.
Despite Banal?s painful loss last Saturday, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer still has faith in the 23-year-old Cebuano, but it will take some time and a lot of hard work before he will be able to contend for a world title.
?For now, not yet, AJ has his limitations and only time will tell, he is only 23. The question that will linger is ?Can he take a punch?? What he has proven though, was that he had the heart to continue but the referee stopped it. He is still young and time is on his side,? Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu after being asked if Banal still has what it takes to become a world champion.
Banal was knocked out in the ninth round last Saturday night by Pungluang Sor Singyu in their 12-round fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
?Banal tried his best and he had nothing to be ashamed of. You have to give credit to Pungluang who was very determined and took the punches of Banal well. On the other side, Banal couldn?t take Pungluang?s punches. Banal tried to stand up but his legs were wobbly,? said Aldeguer.
Banal was floored by a flurry of punches by Sor Singyu. Banal stood up and beat the count but referee Tony Weeks saw that he was still glassy-eyed and unfit to continue and waived the bout off.
History repeated
Banal also suffered the same fate over four years ago in his interim World Boxing Association super flyweight fight with Rafael Concepcion. Banal ran out of gas and was stopped by Concepcion in the 10th round.
In spite of Banal?s painful loss, the show must go on for ALA Promotions and its successful ?Pinoy Pride? boxing series, which showcases the most promising Filipino pugilists.
?For now, the Banal era will be put on hold as other Filipino fighters will rise. What I may stress, what the public may not be aware of, is that ALA Gym is a different entity from ALA Promotions. One of the fighters of ALA Gym failed but the promotion was a success. That is what we would like to do and stage world-class boxing events in the Philippines and showcase the Filipino talent, not only from ALA Gym, but from different stables like Braveheart of Manny Pi?ol and Marlon Tapales of Wakee Stable.
Pinoy Pride events will be bigger next year because of the great fights.?
