By Rey Danseco
HARD-HITTING veteran Dennis Laurente, and once-beaten AJ Banal, will be featured on card featuring Brian Viloria's first defense of his International Boxing Federation light flyweight title on Aug. 29 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Laurente, a former Oriental and Pacific and Pan Asian lightweight king, takes on former WBA super featherweight title challenger Zaid “El Exterminador” Zavaleta in a light welterweight fight.
Coming off an eight-fight winning streak, the 32-year old Filipino southpaw from Johnny Elorde’s stable in Paranaque City, has an impressive record of 31-3-5 with 16 knockouts.
Zabaleta, a native of Guadalajara, is a 30 year old fighter with 26 fights of experience. His record read 18-5-2, 11 KOs after losing his latest fight in October against American David Torres, who has a menacing record of 21-1, 13 KOs.
Zabaleta once tried to become a world champion but hard-hitting Venezuelan champion Edwin Valero stopped him in the third in December 2007 in Mexico.
Banal’s handler chose a weaker opponent for him. The Cebu-based native of Bohol faces Jose Angel Beranza, a 33-year old Mexican with 32-15-2, 25 KOs.
Banal was successful in his last two outings after suffering a shameful 10-round knockout loss to Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in July of last year before a disappointed crowd in Cebu City.
Concepcion is the same Panamanian who Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire beat over 12 rounds for the WBA interim super flyweight title last Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Viloria expects a bloody fight against Mexican challenger Jesus Iribe (15-5-5, 9 KOs) when they collide in the main event of the card dubbed “Island Assault” at Hawaii’s counterpart to the Araneta Coliseum, the Blaisdell Arena.
Viloria is training hard in California under ex-world champ Roberto Garcia. He is scheduled to arrive in Hawaii on Monday, promoter Tom Moffatt said.
Viloria captured his second title with impressive 11th round knockout win over Ulises Solis of Mexico at Araneta Coliseum in April.
The Olympian admitted Iribe will be capable of pulling an upset and that’s the reason why he needs to prepare hard as much as he did for Solis.