NO SWEAT, NO GLORY. AJ Bazooka Banal
(l) and Rey Boom Boom Bautista (r) in consistent and rigid
training while in the United States, in preparation of
today's historic title bouts in Sacramento, California,
USA, 8 a.m. (Manila time) at the Arco Arena. |
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Boholanos
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ "Bazooka"
Banal will carry the Filipino battle flag today with
four other Philippine boxers as they fight it out with
Mexico's best in the World Cup of Boxing at the Arco
Arena in Sacramento, California.
After
his two stablemates failed in their title quests this
year, Bautista is next in line to carry out the uphill
challenge of fulfilling the longtime dream of ALA Boxing
Gym top honcho Antonio Lopez Aldeguer to have a legitimate
world champion.
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The
undefeated Bautista who turned 21 last June faces the biggest
challenge of his budding career when he takes on knockout
artist and defending WBO super bantamweight kingpin Daniel
Ponce de Leon today for the World Cup's main event.
Bautista's
two comrades - Czar Amonsot of this city and Z "The Dream"
Gorres were not fortunate when they bowed on points to their
respective foes in their recent world title fights.
Meanwhile,
Banal, another rising ALA star, will face a new foe in Jorge
Cardenas in a six-round super flyweight duel as the undercard
first bout.
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The
18-year-old native of Sambog, Corella, Bohol was originally
set to take on ex-WBC light flyweight king Eric Ortiz
but Ortiz was summoned to face Z Gorres, whose original
opponent Gerson Guerrero was scrapped from the card
due to a detached retina.
Nicknamed
"Veneno" or poison, Cardenas holds a 9-3-3
win-loss-draw slate spiked with 6 KOs. Banal on the
other hand, is unbeaten in 13 fights that include one
draw with 10 KOs. His previous fight was an 8-round
unanimous win over Juan Alberto Rosas in his US debut
last May 5 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las
Vegas.
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CALL
FOR PRAYERS
Tagbilaran
City Mayor Dan Neri Lim who arrived in Sacramento on Thursday
has called on Filipino boxing fans to include in their prayers
the victory of the Philippine boxing team most especially
to the two Boholano ring gladiators.
In
an exclusive live interview direct from Sacramento together
with Bautista and Banal over dyRD's top-rated "Inyong
Alagad" yesterday morning with anchorman Fred Araneta,
Mayor Lim expressed confidence the ALA boys will prevail over
their respective foes today.
The
city chief executive who is a key supporter of both professional
and amateur boxing here will be at the ringside today as one
of the special guests of Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar dela
Hoya.
READY
TO RUMBLE
In
another interview by HBO which was relayed over "Inyong
Alagad" by Chronicle correspondent Bong Dejaresco, Bautista
assured that he is in tip-top shape ready to do battle with
Ponce de Leon even as he called on his countrymen to pray
for his victory.
Bautista's
call for prayers was also echoed by his parents Alberto Sr.
and Susan. Boom Boom regularly calls up his parents at their
newly-renovated home in Dampas district, this city.
Also
in the bills is the WBO bantamweight title bout between defending
champion Johnny Gonzalez and San Carlos City challenger Gerry
Penalosa.
The
three other fights are Mandaue's Z Gorres vesus Eric Ortiz
in a 12-round IBF superflyweight title eliminator, Davao City's
Diosdado Gabi versus Jose Angel Beranza in an 8-rounder, Sultan
Kudarat's Michael Domingo versus Miguel Roman in an 8-rounder.
WORLD
CUP WEIGH-IN RESULTS
At
the official weigh-in held at the Arden Fair Mall, both the
WBO superbantam champion Ponce De Leon and challenger Bautista
easily made weight in only their first try at the scales.
De
Leon weighed in at 121.6 lbs, while Bautista checked in at
121.4 lbs. The duo will duke it out in a 12-round battle.
Bantamweight
champ Gonzalez tipped the scales at 116.8 lbs, while challenger
Penalosa was at 117.8 lbs.
The
rest of the weights are:
IBF
Intercon JR Bantamweight championship: Z Gorres, 114.4 lbs.
- Eric Ortiz, 115 lbs; AJ Banal, 115 lbs. - Jorge Cardenas,
114.8 lbs; Michael Domingo, 121 lbs - Miguel Roman, 123.2
lbs.; Diosdado Gabi, 118.4 lbs. - Jose Angel Beranza, 118
lbs.
Promoter
Oscar De La Hoya was in attendance, and was mobbed by the
mammoth crowed that went to see the weigh-in. Superstar Manny
Pacquiao was a no-show, while Juan Manuel Marquez gamely posed
with his fans.
PINOYS
READY FOR WAR
At
a press conference the other day, the big surprise was Bautista
who came out taller by an inch over Ponce de Leon when they
faced each other for the first time. Bautista was earlier
tipped to be shorter than Ponce de Leon, an Aztec of Tarahumara
Indian descent.
Bautista
said it's a dream come true to fight for the world title and
vowed to return home with the belt. He predicted an all-out
war and in the end, he'll be the one standing.
"Someone
is going to fall and it won't be me," said Bautista,
quoted by Aldeguer. "I've gone down before but I always
got up. I can absorb more than he can. There's no way out
for both of us."
For
his part, Ponce de Leon, who's making his fifth title defense,
said he's never trained harder. He was unimpressive in outpointing
Peñalosa in his last title defense and said he took
the Filipino lightly.
"I
was overconfident against Peñalosa," said Ponce
de Leon. "But I know Bautista's reputation. I'm ready
to win."
Peñalosa
turned 35 last Tuesday and is nearing the end of a career
that started in 1989 when Gonzales was only seven years old.
The former WBC superflyweight champion wants
to go out with a bang and dethroning Gonzalez would be a fitting
tribute to one of the country's boxing legends.
Aldeguer
said Bautista and Peñalosa learned from each other
in sparring sessions at the Wild Card Gym.
"Bautista
is as tall as Gonzales with arms just as long so he was a
perfect sparmate for Gerry," said Aldeguer. "Bautista
also learned from Gerry," said Aldeguer. "No fighter
is as clever and wily [as Peñalosa]. Gerry just fought
Ponce de Leon so he gave Bautista a lot of lessons. Bautista
became much wiser after sparring with Gerry. They were God-sent
for each other. Gonzalez' advantage is he has the ability
to knock out Gerry. But it won't be easy stopping Gerry who's
very elusive and smart."
Jon
Schorle, the controversial referee who tried to rescue Carlos
Navarro in his knockout loss to Bobby Pacquiao two years ago,
will be the third man in the ring for Ponce de Leon's defense.
The judges will be Steve English, Max de Luca and John Stewart.
(By Manny Ponce De Leon Bautista)
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