AJ Banal Retains his WBO ASPAC BantamWeight Title After a Bloody Fight with Tyson Cave

AJ "Bazooka" Banal (25-1-1 with 19 KOs) retained his WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight Title after a controversial and bloody encounter with the trash talking Tyson Cave (15-2 with 5 KOs). Banal wins via technical unanimous decision over Cave after the fight was stopped in the eighth round due to a severe cut suffered by Banal due to an accidental head butt which happened early in the fifth round. 

Referee Tony Pesons had to temporarily stop the fight three times in order for the ring physician, Dr. Jose Unabia to check the severe bleeding of the cut in the right eyebrow of AJ Banal. After the ring doctor examined the injury for the third time, he had no choice but to advise the referee to stop the fight because of the continuous bleeding, which obviously hampered the sight of the champion.

Banal posted a considerable advantage on all scorecards of three judges when the fight was stopped in the eighth round.

In the fight, Banal had to apply quick lateral movements in order to corner the unorthodox yet evading fighting style of the loud Canadian who had no plans of fighting Banal toe-to-toe which was made manifest in trying to run most of the time in order not to get hit and avoid the power punches of Banal.

The comical display of facial expression on the part of the challenger coupled with dancing prowess made the fight even more entertaining to the boxing fans.

Banal was able to land solid punches in the face of the challenger even if Cave did not want to engage war.

Tyson Cave boasted of having a better physique as seen in his abs.


It must be remembered that during the weigh-in, the loud and trash talking Canadian said that Banal cannot hit him at all because of his excellent fighting movement, but Banal responded that he would let his fists do the talking.

Interestingly, Banal was able to silence the loud and trash talking Canadian after he was declared a winner. But, after the announcement, Cave obviously could not accept the decision of the judges prompting him to display unwanted movements which irritated the crowd and booed him.

Indeed, the fight dubbed as “Pinoy Pride 7-Battle at Mactan” was a display of endurance, discipline and heart of Pinoy fighters who, even in times of troubles, difficulties and hardships manage to capture success.

Now I can see another Pinoy boxer who can make a big statement in the boxing world.