By Ryan Songalia (photo by Paul Hernandez)

It's a mark of how fickle the sport of boxing can be that just two years ago, AJ Banal was considered damaged goods. Perhaps it wasn't that he had lost, but how he lost.

Leading on all scorecards in the tenth round of a scheduled twelve round affair, Banal absorbed a series of right hands that sent him down face first in a neutral corner. Banal wasn't unconscious however as he took the ten count on his knee, resigned in his defeat.

The loss to Rafael Concepcion, which was contested for the interim World Boxing Association junior bantamweight title, would move him to the background of the public's eye. And that might not be a bad thing. At 19, the pressure to be the next breakout prodigy weighed heavily on his shoulders. Now 21, time is on his side.

"I put my loss to Concepcion behind me now and I have learned a lot along the way," says Banal (22-1-1, 18 KO) of Cebu City, Philippines. "I have matured a great deal. When I was still starting out, I was always eager to put on a good show and knock my opponents as early as I could. I learned not to rush things so I would not put myself in a bad position."

On October 30, Banal hopes to put himself in a good position for a second title shot when he faces former two-division world champion Luis Alberto Perez (26-4, 17 KO) of Managua, Nicaragua. The fight will take place at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City with a catch weight of 120 pounds.

Though the 32-year-old Perez has lost three of his last four fights, "El Demoledor" represents the biggest step up in competition Banal has faced. It's not the the first time Banal has faced top competition though. Three years ago Banal defeated little known Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas in his first first outside of the Philippines. Just three months ago Rosas became the International Boxing Federation's super flyweight champion, beating his former conqueror to a world title.

Many of Banal's sparring partners are familiar faces, like fellow ALA Boxing Gym mates Michael Domingo and Mark Jason Melligen. It's a new face in the gym that Banal's trainer Edito Villamor believes will take his performance to the next level.

"We have some adjustment of our training program, physically and mentally," said Villamor, referencing strength and conditioning coach Pio Gerardo Solon, whom Banal began working with before his most recent fight, a fifth round knockout of Korean Big Yoo. "Things like advanced plyometrics, circuit training regimen and more. Maybe that's what was missing from our training before.

"He is a different fighter from when he was a teenager, continues Villamor. "He's more focused, more dedicated and mature now. He still has the fire n his eyes to become world champion."

Banal's re-emergence onto the world class couldn't have come at a better time as the promotional company Top Rank Inc. has committed to help ALA Promotions'  fighters. As reported by Ronnie Nathanielsz, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum was quoted as saying, "We are hoping we can make some world champions out of [ALA President Michael] Aldeguer’s stable of fighters."

With the support of one of the sport's top promotional organizations awaiting, Banal suddenly has the ball back in his court.

"I believe if I win this fight," Banal says, "I will elevate to world class status."

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to GMANews.TV. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com . An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia .