Banal risks lofty ranking vs Indon in Dumaguete tonight
DUMAGUETE CITY – AJ “Bazooka” Banal will risk his lofty world ranking when he battles Ruben Manakane of Indonesia tonight in a non-title fight at the Dumaguete City quadrangle in a fight appropriately billed as “One Last Time Before the Big Time.”
Banal ((27W-1L-1D, 20 KOs) is the No. 1 ranked WBO contender and the reigning WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight champion. He is waiting for a shot at the vacant WBO world bantamweight title against WBO No. 2 contender Pungluang Sor Singyu (42W-1L, 27KOs) of Thailand.
ALA Promotions will negotiate to bring this bout to the Philippines.
Vengeance will be on the mind of Manakane (7W-7L, 5 KOs) whose brother, Nouldy Manakane, was knocked out by Banal in four rounds three years ago in Tagbilaran City.
The WBO bantamweight title has been vacated by Jorge Arce of Mexico, who is eyeing a megabout against WBO/IBF superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire.
Banal weighed in at 124 lbs while Manakane stepped in at 122 lbs during the official weigh-in held yesterday at the Robinson’s Place. They will fight for eight rounds in a card offered free to the public scheduled at 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, the ALA-Cobra Energy Drink “Tunay na Lakas” Boxing Series will also be held at the same venue starting at 6 p.m.
Headlining the card is Joseph Von Miñoza (135 3/4 lbs) who will face RJ Ano-os (135 1/2 lbs) in a 10-round non-title contest. Both Miñoza (13W-3L, 5 KOs) and Ano-os (7W-3L-1D, 2 KOs) will try to return to the win column after suffering losses in Japan.
Penned to fight in the undercards are Melvin Gumban (116 lbs) vs. Aroel Romasasa (117 1/2 lbs) – 10 rounds; Roma Rate (111 3/4 lbs) vs. Lyndel Radoc (110 lbs) – 8 rounds; Reymund Tabogon (113 lbs) vs. Lito Dante (112 3/4 lbs) – 6 rounds; Pedro Balaba (119 lbs) vs. Cristian Saga (117 lbs) – 6 rounds; Rey Morales (113 3/4 lbs) vs. Ian Teves (110 lbs) – 4 rounds and Rolando Lingao-lingao (109 3/4 lbs) vs. Steven Recaborda (113 lbs) – 4 rounds.
