Rudy Salud Has High Hopes For AJ Banal
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, lawyer Rudy Salud, is convinced that AJ “Bazooka” Banal will become a world champion in the future.
Salud who is steeped in boxing made the prediction after watching Nonito “The Filipino” F lash effectively out-box the much heavier and stronger Rafael “El TNorito” Concepcion of Panama at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Sunday morning, Manila Time.
Concepcion is the same fighter who scored a stunning 10th round knockout of Banal in a WBA super flyweight interim title fight in Cebu last year when Banal was ahead on the scorecards of all three judges.
Salud said Concepcion’s victory over Banal was not merely lucky, the main reason was his oft-repeated theme that Banal “was too young and his bones and muscles were under-developed.”
The onetime WBC secretary general and chairman of the ratings committee under whom the current president Don Jose Sulaiman served and conceded that he “learned a lot” was banking on an international and scientifically conducted survey which showed that Asians matured at the age of 22 pointing out that even Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao suffered knockouts at the hands of Rustico Torrecampo and Medgoen 3K Battery when he was not yet 22.
Based on these findings Salud said that when Banal fought the hard-hitting Concepcion who caught Donaire with some solid shots proving his punching power, proved his worth but his age worked against him.
Salud contends “from that time until he gets to 22 that guy (Banal) would have changed a lot and will surely become a world champion.”
