|
FILIPINO
super-flyweight world title challenger AJ Banal may be
in for a surprise when he battles Rafael Concepcion
Saturday at the New Cebu City Coliseum.
In an
interview with Sports Radio 918’s Sports Chat Wednesday
morning, Banal’s trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor said he
saw some flashes of improvement in Concepcion’s style
during a public preview in Cebu recently.
“Hindi
na katulad dati na ’yung suntok niya nanggagaling sa
labas. Sa nakita ko nung nag-shadow box siya, mas
straight na siya ngayon,” Villamor told the
program.
Banal
and Concepcion will battle for the World Boxing
Association (WBA) interim super-flyweight crown in a
12-round bout.
On
Tuesday international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz
announced that the top two Japanese fighters in the
115-lb division, Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono, will face
each other on September 15 in Japan for the vacant WBA
super-flyweight crown.
Lewkowicz held a press conference as soon as he arrived
in Cebu together with ALA promoter Michael Aldeguer.
The
winner of the Banal-Concepcion bout has to face the
winner of the Nashiro-Kono to determine the absolute
champion.
The
WBA-115 crown has been automatically declared vacant as
it is now being held concurrently by World Boxing
Council (WBC) champion Cristian Mijares of Mexico.
Under
the WBA rules, a regular champion is automatically
declared super champion once he adds another world
title. The regular title will then be contested by the
next two available contenders.
“Bahala
na ang manager ko diyan. Basta ako ready
sa laban and kung kailangang harapin ’yung mga
Japanese, paghahandaan ko din sila,” said the
19-year-old Banal with a record of 17-0-1, 14 by
knockout.
Villamor
said they saw tapes of Concepcion’s two fights and liked
what they saw. The Panamanian challenger possesses a
style that fits Banal’s skills.
Those
two fights involved Concepcion’s knockout wins over
compatriot Ricardo Molina and Venezuelan Jean Piero
Perez.
“Tiwala
naman ako na kung magbago ang style ni
Concepcion, makaka-adjust si AJ. Isang
maganda kay AJ ay thinking fighter siya at
matapang sa laban. Kung nag-improve si
Concepcion, magiging magandang laban ito,” said
Villamor.
Concepcion has a record of 10-2-1 with six knockouts in a six-year, 13 fight career
all held exclusively in Panama.
Villamor,
a highly-rated fighter during his time who twice fought
for the world crown, said that although this is just the
first time Concepcion will be fighting outside his
country, he saw in the him the confidence and
determination to bring home the crown.
“Mukhang
desidido yung team nila. Magaling din yung
trainer nila kaya dapat handa din talaga kami dito at
hindi magkumpiyansa kahit na dito ito sa atin gagawin,”
added Villamor.
Meanwhile, one of the country’s two-division world
champion, Luisito Espinosa, will be in Cebu to watch the
fight card dubbed “Laban na Banal”.
Espinosa, a former WBA bantamweight and WBC
featherweight champion, arrived in the country last week
to pursue a protracted court battle regarding his unpaid
fight purse.
Also
seeing action in the undercard is exciting minimum
weight Filipino prospect Milan Melindo (15-0, 4
knockouts) against Panamanian Carlos Melo in a 12-round
WBA intercontinental 105-lb title fight.
Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo slugs
it out with Rivo Rengkung of Indonesia for the vacant
WBO Oriental bantamweight crown. |
