Banal logs uncanny victory in Cebu card
AJ “BAZOOKA” Banal appeared on the verge of being knocked out in the seventh round before getting away with a win when former two division world champion Luis Alberto Perez of Nicaragua was disqualified for a foul blow Saturday night.
Perez ignored referee Ver Abainza’s call for a break as Banal was holding on for dear life, and nailed the Filipino southpaw with a right hook that sent him sprawling on the canvas.
The shocking turn of events stunned the huge crowd at the plush Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City where the “Pinoy Pride” fight card was presented by ALA Promotions and broadcast network ABS-CBN.
Abainza appeared to hesitate for a couple of seconds before deciding to disqualify Lopez as provided for by the rules.
Banal, ranked No. 2 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBA, was leading in the scorecards of all three judges when the unexpected ending came.
Perez, a former world IBF super flyweight and bantamweight champion, drove Banal to the ropes early in the seventh round and cracked him with a right straight that clearly stunned Banal.
A series of punches had the Filipino in dire straits and
Banal’s only recourse was to grab Perez. As Abainza moved in asking the fighters to break it up, Perez caught Banal with a vicious right hook that sent the Filipino rolling on the canvas in obvious pain. Banal eventually staggered to his corner before collapsing again. He recovered in time to hear the decision granting him the win on a disqualification at 1:46 of the seventh. With the win, the 21-year-old Banal improved his record to 23-1-1 with 18 knockouts while Perez, 32, dropped to 26-5 with 17 KOs. Perez’ trainer Mario Antonio Garcia Fonseca was livid over the decision and argued with Abainza from his corner and later claimed Banal was out even before the seemingly illegal punch was thrown. In the top supporting bout, Mark Jason Melligen dropped Mexican KO artist Bladimir Hernandez twice en route to a third round technical knockout win. Jason Pagara sent Thailand’s Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat to the canvas three times in round two to also win by TKO. Ronnie Nathanielsz
Banal’s only recourse was to grab Perez. As Abainza moved in asking the fighters to break it up, Perez caught Banal with a vicious right hook that sent the Filipino rolling on the canvas in obvious pain. Banal eventually staggered to his corner before collapsing again. He recovered in time to hear the decision granting him the win on a disqualification at 1:46 of the seventh. With the win, the 21-year-old Banal improved his record to 23-1-1 with 18 knockouts while Perez, 32, dropped to 26-5 with 17 KOs. Perez’ trainer Mario Antonio Garcia Fonseca was livid over the decision and argued with Abainza from his corner and later claimed Banal was out even before the seemingly illegal punch was thrown. In the top supporting bout, Mark Jason Melligen dropped Mexican KO artist Bladimir Hernandez twice en route to a third round technical knockout win. Jason Pagara sent Thailand’s Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat to the canvas three times in round two to also win by TKO. Ronnie Nathanielsz
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