CEBU CITY – AJ “Bazooka” Banal expressed his readiness to beat Rafael “Little Bull” Concepcion by any means today in the hope of getting a clear shot at the world title by December.

The unbeaten Filipino, who has 14 knockouts to show in 18 fights, claimed on the eve of the fight that he is armed to the teeth, ready for anything his Panamanian opponent will offer.

“I have plans for him that I will show in the ring. I will make the adjustments depending on his style,” said Banal who fights Concepcion for the interim WBA super-flyweight crown.

This means that the fight, scheduled for 12 rounds at the New Cebu Coliseum, could get off to slow start, and action should pick up after both fighters get to know each other well.

“I can’t go in early because he’s also strong. It will really depend on the pace of the fight. I will try to read his style first. I will use my head reading my opponent,” said the 19-year-old Banal.

Raul Caiz Jr. will be the third man on the ring.

It will be battle between two southpaws, with the winner facing either Nobuo Nashiro or Kohei Kono who square off Sept. 15 in Japan. In December, the WBC 115-lb title will be at stake.

“That’s why this is a big fight for me. It’s for a shot at the world title,” said Banal.

Banal said he trained long and hard for this fight in a camp that lasted more than two months, and pushed him within 150 rounds of sparring against bigger, older and more experienced foes.

Banal will fight so close to home, growing up in the tough Tondo-like district just behind the coliseum.

The  26-year-old Panamanian is fighting outside of Panama for the first time since he turned pro in 2002, posting 10 wins with two losses and a draw.

As an amateur, Concepcion wasn’t that successful although he said he represented his country in competitions in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Concepcion has the reputation of getting up each time he is knocked down, and he proved this against Jean Piero Perez last March, getting up from two knockdowns in the second round.

Then he knocked out Perez in the third round of a scheduled 10-rounder. He vowed to put up a great fight against Banal, whether he goes down or not.

“Banal is a great boxer. He’s strong. He’s fit. He’s ready. But I’m not worried. I only think of victory,” said Concepcion who said he plans to climb the ring Saturday at 125 lbs.

He said he’s fighting for his wife and eight-month-old baby girl Allyson.

“This will be a great fight. Banal is a great boxer. This is no easy fight. There is no easy fight,” he added.