INQUIRER Sports

THE July 26 battle featuring unbeaten Filipino AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Panama's Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion has caught the interest of fight fans like no other event in recent Cebu boxing history.

This was revealed yesterday by no less than Cebu's revered boxing patron Antonio L. Aldeguer, who told the media that phone lines have not stopped ringing for ticket inquiries since it was announced that tickets were already available to the public.

The huge July 26 card featuring the WBA No. 3 Banal and no. 6 Concepcion at the New Cebu Coliseum was formally announced yesterday through a well-prepared press conference at the Chika-an Restaurant in Lahug owned by businessman Derek Dytian.

Dubbed ?Laban na Banal?, the event features a night of top action for the vacant WBA superfly title plus a WBA Intercontinental championship in the chief support.

?We are proud to hold this event here in Cebu, and we expect a very good crowd turnout,? said Michael Aldeguer of the ALA Promotions, which is putting up the event with ABS-CBN and Oscar De la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

The 19-year-old Banal of the ALA Gym is hoping to become the third youngest Filipino to win a world crown next to Morris East and Ben Villaflor, and edge superstar Manny Pacquiao to fourth place in the youngest category.

?I am ready for this fight. I feel confident of my training. We are doing everything in the gym to win this fight,? said Banal, who came with his trainer Edmund Villamor.

Team Concepcion is slated to arrive on a Sunday one week before the fight, revealed ALA Promotions' Dennis Canete.

Golden Boy Promotions vice-president Eric Gomez, WBA executive director Gilberto Jesus Mendoza and ratings chief Oliver Gomez, WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo and matchmaker non-pareil Sampson Lewkowicz are expected to be at ringside for the event.

The winner of the Banal-Concepcion battle is expected to defend the title in a mandatory duel with the winner of the Nobuo Nashiro-Kohei Kono eliminator.

Another ALA fighter, the unbeaten Milan Milendo, also graced the press conference, as well as ALA fighters Michael Domingo and James Bacon.

Milendo takes on Panama's Carlos Melo for the WBA Intercontinental 105-lb title.

Domingo, the reigning RP bantam champion, battles Chaiyong Sakkreering while Bacon goes up against Vacharakit Senakarn.

A special attraction takes place when stunner Brenda Shaylor of Las Vegas, Nevada takes on Reynalyn Consejo Jacob of Bacolod City in a 4-round encounter.

The rest of the card pits Rocky Fuentes against Roldan Malinao, Robert Allanic versus Leonardo Doronio, and Hilario 'Bon Jovi' Canillas against Ramil Cabalan.