By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World Boxing Organization president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel has warned AJ "Bazooka" Banal that his Thai opponent for the vacant WBO bantamweight title, Pungluang Sor Singyu is tough and aggressive.

Banal who is ranked No. 2 and Pungluang who is rated at No.2 will battle for the vacant title at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on October 20  in a fight to be telecast on Sunday, October 21 at 10:15 a.m. by ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Valcarcel who is is Los Angeles for the clash between WBO/IBF super bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire  and WBC champion emeritus and Diamond Belt holder Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan told the Manila Standard that he had seen some of the fights of Pungluang and " he is strong and sturdy and will go after his opponent."

Valcarcel said that he has always been impressed by Banal but that the best chance Banal has of winning the title is "by outboxing the Thai."

The WBO president said he regrets not being able to attend the title fight because the WBO Annual Convention in Florida begins on the October 22. However, he congratulated ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer for bringing the title fight to Manila despite the really tough and costly negotiations and hopes Filipino boxibg fans will support the fight card.

The quiet, soft-spoken Pungluang Sor Singyu is going for a knockout against Banal. Siraphop Ratanasuban, vice president of  OneSingchai Co. Ltd whose OneSongchai Promotions is  the number one promotional outfit that handles Boxing and Muay Thai in Thailand and also promotes Pungluang told us the No.2 ranked Thai who has an impressive record of 26 knockouts in 41 wins with only one loss will  “go for a knockout against Banal in AJ’s hometown. ”

Pungluang has been training hard in the Thai  Navy base in Sattaheep, on the Gulf coastline of Eastern Thailand in Chonburi province where he had sparred over 70 rounds

against national team members of Thailand  and his training has gone very well.

Siraphop who is a member of all the major world boxing organizations said while Pungluang will be looking for a knockout his trainers have instructed him to "be careful and always on guard" against the talented soutpaw Banal.

Pungluang is scheduled to arrive in Manila with trainers Phanlop Srithraiwan, Mueankhit Saensuk and Amirut Chuebang and OneSongchai representative Michael Du on October 16 while Banal and the fighters on the undercard including Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and Jason Pagara will be having a series of public workouts at various SM Malls.