Sun.Star: AJ 'Bazooka' Banal grabs WBO title

CEBU CITY- AJ “Bazooka" Banal continued his dominance over Mexicanboxers as he flattened Mexican Pacific Coast champion Esau “Saul" Gaona three times in just the first round to win his first boxing title – the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Youth super flyweight. The Banal-Gaona bout was the main feature of the WBO World Boxing Championship last Sunday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Grand Ballroom. But as the youthful Banal proved his worth as the worlds’ best boxing prospect, Cebuano boxing fans were introduced to the newest boxing sensation out of the famed ALA Gym – the 16-year-old James Bacon. Bacon, who rose from the amateur ranks, caught the eyes of fight fans when he scored a sensational third-round knockout over Roldan Sayson of the Kaamiño Stable in Cagayan de Oro City. Winning his first bout at the same venue last July, Bacon showed his perfect game against the equally dangerous Sayson, who had also won his debut fight via knockout. After his first round dominance, Bacon fell when a left hook knocked him down and was stripped of points for hitting low – an automatic 10-7 in the scorecards. With a draw looming if he wins the next two rounds, Bacon patiently waited for his time, and with a left, he scored a knock down early in the third. Smelling blood, Bacon finished off Sayson with relentless hooks and straight combinations that nearly sent the Cagayan de Oro fighter to nirvana. A killer straight rendered Sayson stunned and standing at the neutral corner, until one more punch sent him into oblivion. Luckily, Bacon saw what had happened to his prey and stopped delivering the next punch while referee Steve Blanco stepped to stop the contest at the 1:27 mark of the third round. The most action-packed fight of the card belonged to the RP flyweight championship fight between ALA Boy Rocky Fuentes and former Olympian Danilo Lero. Fuentes retained the belt with a unanimous decision, 114-113, from Edgar Olalo, 115-112, from Edward Ligas and 116-111 from Jonathan Davis, in a game which kept all on their feet. Another ALA Boy, Robert Allanic, kept his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt following a technical knockout win over In Suk-Song of Korea at the 1:02 mark of the 11th round. - Sun.Star