AJ Banal Faces The Rugged Beranza in Hawaii
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
AJ “Bazooka” Banal faces a rugged opponent when he takes on Mexican journeyman Jose Angel Beranza on the undercard of the IBF light flyweight title fight between Brian Viloria and Jesus Iribe at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on Saturday.
Banal who has a record of 19-1-1 with 16 knockouts is certain to have his hands full against the aggressive slugger Beranza (32-15-2, 25 KO's) who is coming off a huge win over undefeated super bantamweight Juan Velasquez.
Beranza dropped Velasquez twice in the third round of a scheduled six round bout at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas last July 24 to win a comfortable unanimous decision.
Beranza has won two of his last three fights, the other win coming against another undefeated fighter in Jesus Rojas who had a record of 13-0 with 10 knockouts going into the fight with Beranza.
His only loss was a twelve round unanimous decision to Wilfredo Vasquez Jr who was undefeated in 14 fights with 12 knockouts.
Those who try to knock Beranza as an unworthy opponent for Banal should watch the ESPN coverage of his fight against Velasquez to realize how tough an opponent Beranza is.
Velasquez had a hard time against the heavy pressure of Beranza and the Mexican veteran's ability to work on the inside and connect with short hooks and solid uppercuts.
Velasquez moved well in the first two rounds and used his jab effectively to win the rounds before Beranza caught him with a right to the midsection that dropped the Puerto Rican. Beranza pounced on Velasquez right away and dropped him for a second time with a left hook to the side of the head indicating that the southpaw Banal will also have to deal with his power aside from his pressure.
However, with three-time “Trainer of the Year” award winner Freddie Roach likely to be in the corner of Banal who, according to ALA Gym patron Tony Aldeguer is in “very good condition,” the 20 year old Filipino prospect is expected to prevail.
