By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Legendary Hall-of-Fame matchmaker and promoter Don Chargin believes that emerging ring sensation AJ “Bazooka” Banal, the 18 year old southpaw from the famed ALA Gym of renowned boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, is the real deal.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said he was in the dressing room at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with Oscar De La Hoya who was preparing for his epic clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr last May 5 at the time Banal was fighting tough Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas when his mobile phone rang.
Schaefer recalled that Chargin was on the line and told him “Richard I am sitting here and watching AJ Banal. This kid is the real deal. In my over fifty five years or more of promoting and seeing talent, I have hardly ever seen somebody as exciting, as talented and as powerful as Banal.”
Chargin who is 78 years old promoted his first show at the age of 23 in which former world bantamweight champion Manuel Ortiz battled Eddie Chavez in the main event. After 61 years in the business Chargin has promoted over three thousand fights and over forty world champions have appeared on his fight cards.
The undefeated Banal who was making his US debut scored a unanimous eight round decision over Rosas to improve his record to 13-0-1 with 10 knockouts while Rosas dropped to 25-3 with 22 knockouts.
