Tyson Cave’s vow: I will make Banal cry

MANILA—Canadian challenger Tyson Cave says he will make AJ “Bazooka” Banal cry when they clash for the Filipino southpaw’s WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City this Saturday.

Cave told a gathering of Cebu sportswriters at a press luncheon that he doesn’t just knock people out.

“I do more than that. I make them cry in the ring,” Cave said.

Banal, who has an impressive record of 24-1-1 with 19 knockouts, is hoping to beat Cave and earn a rematch with the only fighter who beat him, Panama’s Rafael Concepcion.

The reigning WBC Continental Americas 122-pound champion with a record of 15-1 with 5 knockouts said he won’t engage Banal in a war but would use his unorthodox style to methodically break his rival down.

“If I’m done taking AJ’s belt,then I’ll be back here as the Filipino Tyson,” Cave said. Pointing to what he referred to as “my beautiful face,” the Canadian fighter said he “hadn’t been hit too many times.”

The cocky Canadian claimed he patterned his style after former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Britain’s former colorful world champion Prince Naseem Hamed.