After an impressive 1st round TKO win over Gaona last month, AJ "Bazooka" Banal (15-0-1 with 12 KOs) will face tough Mexican Jovanny "Bambino" Soto (25-7-1, with 19 KOs) this December 8 in Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. The fight will be an undercard for Rey Bautista's comeback fight after suffering his first lost last August 3, against Daniel Ponce Deleon.

Banal - Soto bout was originally scheduled last month but never materialized because the Mexican Boxing Federation did not allow Soto due to his scheduled defense. This fight was said to be an eliminator for WBO 115 champ Fernando Montiel.