Banal vs Yoo Clash is Set for July 17 in Bohol

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World rated AJ “Bazooka” Banal continues his campaign to earn a world title shot when he faces tough Japanese and former WBO interim super flyweight champion Big Yoo at the Carlos P. Garcia Stadium in Tagbiliaran, Bohol on July 17.

The international coordinator of the Japan Boxing Commission and the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation – OPBF – Koji Ishizuka cleared the confusion over the real identity and nationality of the fighter whose ring name is Big Yoo. Ishizuka told us that Big Yoo is Hayato Kimura’s alias. Ishizuka said “he is Japanese but is now under contract with a Korean manager” so he is effectively under the Korean Boxing Commission. Big Yoo resides in Seoul, Korea and is also known to use the alias Joon-in Yoo.

Too young to get a license in Japan, Kimura went to Thailand where he made his debut in Bangkok in a six round bout and went on to win three straight fights and fought under the name Hayato Chuwatana and was rated No. 4 .

He moved back to South Korea and in June 2007 won the South Korean super flyweight title with a 3rd round knockout of Jin-Ki Jung in only his eighth professional bout...
Known for his speed, Big Yoo also has a reputation for being a ferocious body puncher. The 20 year old fighter has a record of 16-2 with 11 knockouts. In his last fight Big Yoo scored a big 5th round TKO over the Philippines BJ Dolorosa in Tokyo on April 6 this year after unexpectedly dropping a ten round decision to another Filipino Brix Ray in Daegu, Korea on January 3.

He lost a close split decision in a battle for the vacant Korean bantamweight title to Seung Suk Chae. Big Yoo is currently ranked No. 7 by the OPBF.
 
The 21 year old southpaw Banal has strung together four successive and impressive victories after his shocking 10th round knockout by Panama’s Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in a WBA bantamweight interim title before a jam-packed Cebu Coliseum on July26, 2008.
 
Since that setback the talented fighter from the famed ALA Gym has scored a 4th round KO over Nouldy Manakane, a 2nd round knockout of the “African Golden Boy” Mbwana, a ten round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Angel Beranza and a 4th round knockout of Mexican world title challenger Cecilio Santos in Banal’s last fight on January 14, 2010.