WBO Asia Pacific Bantam weight champion AJ “Bazooka” Banal said he will focus first on his match against Canadian WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight champion Tyson “The Prince of Hali” Cave before thinking about another opponent.
Cave and Banal face off in the main bout of the Pinoy Pride 7: Battle at Mactan this Saturday at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
In the fight’s final press conference yesterday at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Banal said he will concentrate on his match against Cave rather than think about a possible rematch against Rafael Concepcion.
Concepcion was responsible of handing Banal his only loss in his pro career. Banal has a record of 24 wins-1 loss and 1 draw. 19 of his wins were by knockouts.
But Cave, who sports a 15-1-0 record with 5 KOs, said Banal should be more focused on facing him. “Why is he thinking of Concepcion? I am better than Concepcion. I am the one going to fight Concepcion because I know I am going to win over him (Banal),” said Cave.
Banal and Cave will slug it out for the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title.
Veteran trainer Edmund Villamor of ALA Boxing Promotions said they are prepared for the fight. He said he is not pressuring Banal to go for the kill and told him to be patient in all rounds.
“Paningkamotan jud ni nako awaya, aron mahilom pud na siya (Cave)” said Banal.
Cave, meanwhile, also said he will make the Cebuano and Filipino boxing fans remember him as a great fighter.
Cave said he may not be that experienced in the professional world of boxing but he is already an old warrior in the amateur scene.
“I am in a win-win situation here. I am going to win and I can promise to everyone that I am going to give them a great fight,” added Cave.
Meanwhile, Romeo “Jako” Jakosalem (11wins-4 losses, 1 draw 5 KOs) of Davao promised everyone that he will do his best to win against “The Raging Bull” Eusebio Baluarte (17wins-10KOs-3losses) of Bukidnon in his bid to snatch Philippine Junior Welterweight championship in the undercard.
Jakosalem defeated Canadian Steve Clagget via an eighth-round TKO last March in the Pinoy Pride 4 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
“Taas-taas pud akong training, pasalig ko ninyo karon nga mas nindot akong ikapakita ninyo kay buhaton nako tanan para makadaog,” said Jakosalem.
Jakosalem won his last two fights, the other one against Japanese Tosho Makoto Aoki.
Baluarte, on the other hand, is coming from win against Lotlot Gaviola via a third-round TKO last February.
Also present during the press conference was the reigning Indonesian Boxing Association bantamweight champion Richard “King Cobra” Samosir (18wins-3losses-7KOs-3draws), who will face former WBO Oriental bantamweight champion Michael “Bruce Lee” Domingo.
The official weigh-in will be held at the Gaisano Grand Mall in Mactan at 12 noon today.