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BAUTISTA, BANAL |
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It's
still a long way to go before their next crucial fights
but ALA Gym warriors AJ "Bazooka" Banal and
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista are dead set to score
impressive wins.
Bohol's
dynamic duo is scheduled to see action underneath Gerry
Penalosa's WBO title defense against Thai Ratanachai
Vorapinvorapin on April 6 at the historic Araneta Coliseum.
Of the two Boholano world prospects Banal faces the
most serious challenge of his young pro career against
an equally unbeaten WBC Latino champ.
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The
two were at the ringside when presented by boxing patron Antonio
Lopez Aldeguer to fight fans during Monday night's "Best
of Boxing" card at the packed ICM carpark, Tagbilaran
City. (see separate story)
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ALA
Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, in a phone conversation
with Golden Boy Promotions Vice President Eric Gomez
the other day, announced that reigning WBO Intercontinental
super bantamweight champion Bautista and reigning WBO
youth super flyweight king Banal are set to wage their
own wars against separate opponents from Mexico and
Uruguay.
Bautista
(23-1-0, KOs 13) will make his first defense for his
intercontinental super bantamweight crown against Mexican
Genaro "Duro" Camargo. Camargo (16-3-0, KOs
10) is a hard puncher who sent four of his 10 knockout
victims to the mat in the first round, one which dropped
in less than a minute.
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After
his only defeat against reigning WBO super bantamweight boss
Daniel Ponce de Leon in August 2007, Bautista came back strong
and a better fighter as he snatched away from Antonio Meza
the WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title in December
2007.
Banal
(16-0-1, KOs 13) will slug it out with another knockout pugilist,
the also undefeated and reigning WBC Latino super flyweight
ringmaster Caril El Raton" Herrera of Uruguay. Older
by eight years and more experienced than Banal, Herrera 21-0-0,
KOs 13) is WBC No. 2, WBA No. 8, and IBF No. 12. He debuted
as a pro through a first round stoppage of Alejandro Lima
on Aug. 23, 2003, almost two years ahead of Banal.
The
WBA super flyweight bout will pair off both hardy warriors
for a chance to be in the league of those who can challenge
WBA super flyweight No. 1 challenger Martin Castillo of Mexico
for the top post. Banal is currently WBA No. 6, WBO No. 8,
and IBF No. 8.
The
second quarter slugfest is brought to the Philippines by Golden
Boy Promotions in association with ALA Promotions and network
giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Company. (Many B./CDN)
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