MANILA, Philippines?So what?s extra golden, what?s so special and strictly secret about AJ Banal who goes for a piece of the world super flyweight boxing crown in Cebu City on Saturday?

This question had to be raised on the eve of AJ?s reckoning after his chief handlers continued to keep battle plans and other details on Banal jealously under wraps.

So what if Banal, contrary to what the World Boxing Association had made everybody here to believe, will no longer be seeking the whole cake, but only a portion of the wildly publicized world crown, when he squares off with Panama?s Rafael Concepcion, described as a tough and very dangerous slugger?

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First, there?s no hiding the amazing sharpness and power of the 19-year-old Banal, who definitely appeared ahead of his years in amassing a clean 17-0 card, iced with 14 knockouts.

It?s also no secret Banal, unlike stablemate Boom Boom Bautista, has not been fed a soft diet of patsies en route to Saturday?s big outing.

There?s neither a trace nor a hint whatsoever of a glass chin, the very brittle link that led to Bautista?s devastating first-round fall when he went up, also flashing an unbeaten card, against former world super bantamweight king Daniel Ponce de Leon in Sacramento, California, last year.

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Banal has been properly weaned.

He?s perfectly ripe for the biggest outing of his career.

He definitely has the edge over his foe, but what fuels fan appetite is the fact that Concepcion of Panama could also surprise Banal with what could ultimately amount to a secret weapon.

Nothing much is known about Concepcion?s overall ability, the main reason behind Banal?s installation as an overwhelming favorite.

?He?s a bell-to-bell warrior who has won his last seven fights,? said Sampson Lewkowicz, the colorful international matchmaker who warned Banal against taking Concepcion (10-2-1, with 6 KOs) lightly.

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Anyway, if Banal wins, he would next be lined up against the winner of the Sept. 15 fight between Nobuo Nashiro, WBA No. 1, and Kohei Kono, WBA No. 2 in Tokyo.

Banal is ranked No. 4, Concepcion No. 7 by the WBA, the reason behind promoter Akihiko Honda?s successful bid to downgrade Saturday?s championship at the New Cebu Coliseum to the interim level.

OK, it has started to shape into a circus but, in the end, the ultimate winner among the four leading contenders would have to test his mettle against top WBA 115-pound ruler Christian Mijares, the conqueror of the colorful and noisy Jorge Arce.

Mijares has been inexplicably elevated to a super champion by the WBA.

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The WBA should be able to divulge the secret behind the move to momentarily send Mijares to limbo once the rightful challenger to the super champ emerges.

In Banal?s case, there may be no need to explain why trainer Ala Villamor has been extremely jealous and secretive about everything that his talented boxer does.

?I talked to Banal for over 30 minutes last July 19, he talked about his condition, preparations and fight plans, but AJ said he trusts not a word of what he had said would see print,? explained a US-based Filipino engineer, a former neighbor of Banal in Cebu.

There?s nothing wrong with that, actually.

Problem is that, according to this concerned friend of AJ, Banal is not being allowed to entertain calls, his phone is also being checked regularly.

That?s rather intriguing. This mysterious move could only mean handlers must?ve cooked up something extra strong and special, maybe bigger than the bazooka Banal is reputed to tote, for us avid boxing fans.