By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Unbeaten Indonesian super flyweight champion Ali Rochmad has arrived in Tagbilaran City and is ready for battle against rising young sensation AJ Banal of the famed ALA Gym in a first class fight card highlighting the Sandugo Festival at the Island City Mall Car Park on Saturday July 22.
The Banal-Rochmad ten round war will be the featured bout on the "Battle of the Undefeated" which is presented by well-known boxing promoter Sammy Gello-ani in cooperation with popular sportsman, Mayor Dan Neri Lim and the city government of Tagbilaran, a growing hotbed of boxing.
The Manal-Rochmad bout will be featured on the top rated weekly boxing show "The Main Event" a Viva sports presentation sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum. Stunningly attractive Viva Hot Babes Rene Summer, the Tanduay 2006 Calendar girl and Louie Anderson will act as round girls.
Banal faces a tough fight against the strong Indonesian in a card that also features other top-notch Bohol talents including Along Denoy who clashes with Alex Guevarra, Willy Bullecer, Arnel Tadena, Nic Banal, Mark Jason Melliguen, Lito Jalnaiz, Leon Maratas and Ricky Sismundo.
Filipino ring sensation, WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista who will see action on the September 16 undercard of the rematch between WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez will figure in an exhibition bout.
Bautista who was forced to pull out of his fight against Alejandro Felix Montiel on the Mano-A-Mano card featuring Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar Larios last July 2 has been aching to get back into the ring and show fans what he's got.
Rochmad and Banal paid a courtesy call on Mayor Lim at his City Hall office yesterday afternoon after flying into Cebu from Surabaya, Indonesia and then taking a comfortable ride on the popular Weesam ferry to Tagbilaran City.
