Sacremento Weigh-in: Banal 115 - Cardenas 114.8

Sacramento, California - The official weigh in was held at Arden Fair Mall. Both warriors easily made the weight limit of Super-flyweight division (115 lbs). AJ Banal came up at exactly 115 lbs while Cardenas at 114.8 lbs. Their bout will be first fight of the 6 cards in the World Cup of Boxing that will be held in Arco Arena.





(photo courtesy of Dong Secuya|PhilBoxing.com)

AJ Banal will battle new opponent Jorge Cardenas

Pinoy prospect and undefeated AJ "Bazooka" Banal will battle Jorge Cardenas in 6 rounder bout in Boxing World Cup this Saturday in Arco Arena, Sacramento.

Cardenas has a record of 9 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws with 6 KOs, has fought only once in the US and hails from Los Mochis, Mexico like Humberto Soto. He is a natural Bantamweight(118 lbs) fighter and has several fights at Superbatamweight(122 lbs), In his last bout he stopped Trinidad Mendoza in Mexico last May 21.

(photo courtesy of Philboxing.com)

AJ Banal vs Eric Ortiz is off!!!

The latest developments from Sacramento that the bout between promising Pinoy prospect AJ Banal and Mexican Eric Ortiz is off. Banal's stablemate Z Gorres will now fight Ortiz after Guerrero pulled out due to illness. New opponent for AJ Bazooka Banal will be announced soon according to the officials.

In the meantime Bert Batawang vs Gerardo Verde is also off! Verde failed to pass on his medical test due to detached retinas. Boxing World Cup on August 11 is reduced to 6 bouts from originally scheduled 7 bouts.

Will AJ Banal follows the fate of Fernando Vargas?

Fernando "EL Feroz" Vargas was a monster back in the late 90's. He turned pro in 1997 and fought 9 times on that year. On his 15th pro fight he won his first world title the IBF Light Middleweight belt by stopping the dangerous puncher Yory Boy Campas. He defended his belt 5 times beating elite fighters like Ike Quartey and Winky Wright, till he met Felix Trinidad which he was dropped 5 times and was stopped on the 12th round. After the Trinidad fight Vargas was not the same fighter that he used to be. He was KO'd by Oscar Dela Hoya and twice stopped by Shane Mosley. At the very young age of 28 he was already a shot fighter.

“Vargas was a prodigy who turned pro at 19 and fought Tito Trinidad a few days before he turned 23,” said Rudy Salud a founding secretary-general of the WBC quoted in Philstar newspaper. “His body was never allowed to develop because he was rushed into big fights. By the time he fought Trinidad, he had cracks in his body and chinks in his armor. He was 24 when he was knocked out by Oscar de la Hoya." Salud has an advice for the promising pinoy prospect AJ Banal.

“Banal is only 18,” said Salud. “He has looked good against opponents who are not of high caliber. But he shouldn’t be pushed too hard.”

AJ Banal has been fighting in the higher level at the young age of 18। His last 6 opponents has a total of 88 wins and 9 losses, he fought undefeated prospects and dangerous experienced fighters. I hope AJ Banal will be ready and will mature enough once he steps into championship fights.

AJ Banal flies to US today!!!

Promising Pinoy boxing prospect AJ Banal flies to US today. He will report immediately to 2006 US trainer of the year Freddie Roach in his famous sweat shop Wild Card Gym in LA.

With him are fellow stablemates Rey Bautista , Z Gorres, Bert Batawang and their manager. They will take part in one of the most anticipated boxing event this year, The Boxing World Cup (Philippines vs Mexico) that will be held in Sacramento, California this coming August 11, 2007.