Ala boys Banal and Amonsot KOs Indon foes in impressive ring comeback

Cebu - TAGBILARAN CITY – AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal and Czar Amonsot are definitely back. The Boholano ring stars from Cebu’s fabled ALA Boxing Gym proved they still have what it takes to become world champions someday after knocking out their Indonesian foes in their much-ballyhoed ring return witnessed by a mammoth crowd the other night here at the Island City Mall carpark.

Like a dormant volcano that erupted unexpectedly, Banal and Amonsot pumelled their hapless opponents at will.

Banal needed just four rounds to force Nouldy Manakane to wave the white flag of surrender, while Amonsot sent Zoel Fidal crashing into the canvass in round five.

Banal threw a barrage of body punches that sent Manakane down in the second round. Luckily, the Indon visitor beat referee Ben Necesario’s count to proceed with the fight.

The 20-year-old breadwinner was very composed and patient, perhaps learning from his previous defeat to Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion wherein he rushed things up and tried to finish off the Panamian early only to run out of gas as the fight progressed.

Seeing an opening on his foe’s defense, Banal sneaked in a hook followed by a powerful uppercut that sent Manakane down at the seat of his pants for good at the 1:11 mark of round four.

On account of his explosive comeback, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told The Freeman that he will send Banal to the United States early next month to train under coach Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Gym for more conditioning.

 “Probably three weeks AJ will be training there.Then let’s see if he’s ready for a much bigger fight,”said Aldeguer.

Amonsot, on the other hand, was as impressive as Banal, never showing any rust from 17 months of inactivity.

Amonsot, who was in full command right after the opening bell, planted a bone-crushing right uppercut to the jaw that flattened Fidal at 1:39 of round five.

Prior to that, Fidal complained of a low blow three times, twice in the second round that downed him on both knees, but referee Delbert Pelegrino only saw one clear illegal blow committed by Amonsot in the fourth.

In the other bouts of the slambang show bankrolled by ALA Promotions in partnership with the city government of Tagbilaran under the flagship of Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Ricky Sismundo floored Darryl Pucdol of Wakee Salud Stable in round eight, ALA mainstay Along Denoy decisioned Aljun Salogaol over eight rounds, while Amonsot’s brother, former amateur pug Rocky Amosot, fought to a split draw with Samuel Galinato.

The rest of the results saw Junel Barembao and Ricky Nunez ending their match in a majority draw and Powell Balaba scoring his first ever career victory in six bouts at the expense of the debuting Eman Labanza. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)