YOUNG super-flyweight prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal will get his first crack at a world title when he faces Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight crown.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror Monday morning, fight manager Michael Aldeguer said they were already informed of the WBA’s approval of the world-title clash between Banal, 19, and Concepcion, which is tentatively set in July in Cebu.

“Yes, it is confirmed. Actually, we’ve been working on it the past couple of weeks through international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz,” said the young Aldeguer, heir apparent to his father Tony, creator of the respected ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu.

Sunday morning (Manila time) World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight champion Cristian Mijares of Mexico added the WBA belt to his collection when he dethroned Alexander Muñoz of Venezuela via 12-round unanimous decision in Durango, Mexico.

Under WBA rules, their regular champion will automatically be elevated to “super champion” status if he is able to add either or both the regular WBC or International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles in a unification fight. The regular crown will then be declared vacant and will be disputed by the next two available contenders in the WBA ratings.

Aldeguer disclosed there are actually two Japanese fighters occupying the top two spots of the 115-lb division—No. 1 Nobou Nashiro and No. 2 Kohei Kono. Aldeguer said they were told by the WBA that both Japanese will be asked to fight in a box-off, with the winner facing the victor of the Banal-Concepcion confrontation.

The WBA No. 3 Banal is poised to become the youngest-ever Filipino world champion should he win the WBA tiara. Current sensation and WBC super-featherweight titlist Manny Pacquiao won the WBC flyweight crown a few weeks before his 20th birthday in 1998. By July of this year, Banal will be several months away from his 20th birthday in December.

Banal will grace this morning’s Sports Chat heard live on dzSR Sports Radio 918kHz.

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YOUNG super-flyweight prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal will get his first crack at a world title when he faces Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight crown.

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