Banal Picks Up Lopsided Decision Over Beranza

AJ “Bazooka” Banal won a lopsided ten round unanimous decision against rough and rugged Mexican Jose Angel Beranza at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

ALA boxing patron Tony Aldeguer told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Banal out-boxed Beranza who reminded him somewhat of Panama’s Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion who scored a stunning 10th round knockout over Banal in Cebu in 2008 but that this time Banal handled his opponent impressively and won by a wide margin despite having been deducted one point for a low blow.


Source: boxingscene.com

AJ Banal KOs in Round 2

AJ Banal vs Nouldy Manakane Fight Video

Round 1 & 2


Round 3 & 4

AJ Banal bounces back, KO's Manakane!

Photo by Dong Secuya / Philboxing.com

AJ Banal was impressive on his comeback fight after suffering his first defeat last June.

He displayed ring generalship to sneak bombs against his Indonesian opponent Nouldy Manakane. The game Manakane fought like a warrior but being a warrior alone couldn't help him to penetrate the improved defense of Banal.

Banal crushed Manakane in the 4th round with 1-2 combinations and was helpless on the canvass which the referee halted the fight. AJ Banal improved to 18 wins, 1 loss & 1 draw while Manakane fell to 17-8-1.

Concepcion upsets Banal!!!!

Photo by Dong Secuya /Philboxing

After an slow start, Rafael Concepcion came back strong in the late rounds to shock the crowd by stopping AJ Banal on the 10 round. The favored Banal was visibly exhausted due to the body works of Concepcion.

It was a seesaw battle until Concepcion's body work took effect on the late rounds. Banal was dropped on the 10 round and wasn't able to beat the count.

Below is the fight video - Round 9 and 10:

HEAD TO HEAD: BANAL - CONCEPCION

According to the head to head stats, Banal clearly has the edge on all departments (expect the average rounds). Banal has high KO rate at 77.78% while Concepcion has only 46.15% KO rate. AJ Banal has the ring experience advantage, he already fought a total of 81 rounds compare to 58 rounds of Concepcion. Concepcion was knockdown 4 times by his past opponents while Banal's chin remain superb so far without any signs of being hurt or close of being dropped.

Banal obviously fought the better opponents with a total of 190-59 win-losses record. Both fighters almost equal on the average rounds per fight, which i will predict that this fight won't past round 5.


Everything is in favor of AJ Banal, I don't see any reason why Banal won't win this fight. This is the first fight of Rafael Concepcion outside his country. He just arrived last Monday and I expect his body hasn't adjusted yet.

Two fighters who wants to slug it out in the middle of the ring. Enjoy the fireworks while it last.

Cebu Weigh In: AJ Banal 115 – Rafael Concepcion 115

Photo by Dong Secuya /Philboxing

Cebu City - Pinoy prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal came in at the exact Superfly limit of 115 lbs, while Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion came up at 116 lbs on his first attempt on the scale. Concepcion shredded off the extra pound after two hours of walking around the mall where the weigh in was held.

The Banal-Conception bout will be for the WBA Interim Superflyweight title. The fight is suppose to be for the vacant regular WBA title which was vacated by Cristian Mijares after he was elevated to WBA Super Champion. It was changed on the last minute by WBA in favor of the Japanese, Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono which they will fight on September 15 in Japan. The winner of the Banal-Concepcion bout will fight the winner of the Nashiro-Kono for the true WBA Champion at 115.

Complete undercard weights:

James Bacon - 127 1/2 lbs. vs Skak Max 126 1/2 lbs.
Jun Intor - 119 lbs. vs Roldan Malinao 120 1/4 lbs.
Robert Allanic - 125 lbs (second try) vs Leonardo Doronio - 124 lbs.
Hilario Canillas - 122 1/2 lbs vs Ramil Cabalan - 120 lbs.