MANILA, Philippines – Filipino pugilists AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Jason Pagara outplayed their Japanese and South Korean opponents on Saturday, scoring knockout wins at the Carlos P. Garcia Football Stadium in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Banal won the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific bantamweight title after stopping Japan’s Big Yoo at 1:59 of Round 5.
The new WBO Asia-Pacific champ even suffered a cut on his scalp after an accidental head butt in Round 2.
According to PhilBoxing.com, he fought on until he fired a right to his foe’s temple and a sharp left uppercut which finished off the Japanese.
Banal now has 22 wins (with 18 knockouts), 1 loss and 1 draw while Yoo, who resides in South Korea, has a 16-3 (with 11 KOs) record.
Yoo’s loss to Banal was his first defeat by KO.
Meanwhile, Pagara saw off South Korean Young-Bin Kim with a 2nd round technical knockout victory at 2:18.
In Round 2, Pagara let out a series of “sharp hooks” which caused cuts on his opponent’s eyelids. They cuts on the Korean’s eyelids prompted the ring physician to recommend a stop to the fight.
Pagara now has a 23-1 (with 12 KOs) card while Young-Bin Kim has 10 wins (with 7 KOs) and 2 losses.
The Banal and Pagara bouts were featured in “SANDUGO – Labanan ng mga Kampeon.”
Other winners in the event were ALA Gym’s James Bacon, Ricky Sismundo of Tagbilaran City, Rocky Bacor of the DDP Stable of Butuan City, Jomar Cordinillo of Tagbilaran City and Wilbeth Loberanis also of Tagbilaran City. –
ABS-CBN News
Subject: Banal, Pagara Score KO Victories 
Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:11 am
