Banal breezes past Indonesian foe in undercard of Pinoy Pride 30

AJ Banal (left) handily beats Indonesia’s Junior Bajawa by unanimous decision Saturday night in the undercard of Pinoy Pride 30 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

Former title contender AJ “Bazooka” Banal eased past Indonesian Junior Bajawa in an eight-rounder in the undercard of “Pinoy Pride XXX: D-Day” on Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The 26-year-old Banal earned a unanimous decision win over Banawa with the three judges giving identical 80-71 scores.

Bajawa was deducted by a point in the sixth round after both boxers clashed heads. Banal sustained a cut on the right side of his head as blood dripped on his face.

Banal, though, was hardly bothered by it and continued to come after Bajawa.

Earlier, Jofer Montaño scored the night’s only stoppage so far after halting Australian Tyson Maher in just two rounds.

Montaño sent Maher down to one knee with vicious body shots. Maher barely beat the count and when he did, Montaño went for the kill before the referee stopped the fight at the 1:35 mark of the second round.

Maher charged like a bull right at the opening bell. But Montaño stayed on his toes and then took complete control of the fight after Maher pulled back on his punches following his short surge.

Banal (32-2-1, 22 KOs) has now won his last five fights after losing a title shot to Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu three years ago at Mall of Asia Arena for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown. RC