EXCITEMENT is building up over the return to the ring of AJ ?Bazooka? Banal and Czar Amonsot, who will fight worthy opponents aimed at testing whether the two ALA Gym fighters have what it takes to make an impact on the world boxing scene.

Banal battles Indonesia?s super flyweight champion Nouldy Manakane in his first appearance after his 10th-round KO loss to Rafael Concepcion of Panama last July 26 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The hard-hitting Amonsot is anxiously looking forward to his return to the ring when he takes on Indonesia ?s no. 2 lightweight contender Zoel Fidal.

At the time of the KO, Banal was well ahead on the scorecards of all three judges and would have won the World Boxing Association Interim title if he merely held on in the last couple of rounds.

Learning from the mistakes made in that fight, Banal and trainers Edito Villamor and Edmund Villamor are eager to prove their worth in the showdown at the Island City Mall car park in a fight card that has the total commitment of Tagbilaran City mayor and boxing fan Dan Neri Lim.

Manakane, who is Indonesia?s super flyweight champion, won the title with a unanimous decision over compatriot Jemmy Gobel on March 18 last year and has won six fights in a row after dropping a close decision to World Boxing Organization?s no. 1-ranked Promansak Posuwan of Thailand in a WBO Asia Pacific championship fight.

Posuwan, the WBO?s no. 1-ranked Thai is scheduled to face Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico for the WBO 115-pound title vacated by Fernando Montiel, who can no longer make the weight. Montiel is moving up to fight mandatory challenger Erik Morel for the WBO bantamweight interim title as Gerry Pe?alosa is scheduled to move up to take on Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez for the WBO super bantamweight crown in a title fight planned for April 4 in New York.

ALA Promotions president, youthful Michael Aldeguer, concedes that Banal?s comeback fight against Manakane ?is a big risk but he has to be tested for all to know whether he still has the potential to be a world champ.?

One of the Banal believers is former WBC founding secretary-general Rudy Salud who is convinced that despite the loss to Concepcion he still has faith and confidence in Banal?s ability to bounce back and eventually win a world title.

The 20-year-old southpaw has a record of 17-1-1 with 14 knockouts and is ranked no. 8 by IBF and no. 10 by WBA and despite his upset loss to the Panamian, Concepcion is regarded as one of the country?s brightest hopes for a world title. Ronnie Nathanielsz