A steady stream of trash talk from Halifax’s Tyson Cave doesn’t appear to have fazed A.J. Banal.

Banal, the World Boxing Organization’s fifth-ranked bantamweight, responded to Cave’s relentless verbal assault in advance of Saturday’s 12-round bout in Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines.

“I’m not really bothered by his trash talking,” Banal is quoted as saying on the website philboxing.com. “I know I can catch him. It’s impossible for him not to get hit.”

Cave, the World Boxing Council’s 29th-ranked super bantamweight, is a big underdog. But since arriving in the Philippines last weekend, he has put himself in the spotlight with attention-grabbing, controversial quotes.

“I’ll give you five dollars every time A.J. touches me,” Cave is quoted as saying on philboxing.com.

“I haven’t been hit too many times – see my beautiful face?” he added, according to the Cebu Sun Star.

On inquirer.net, Cave is quoted as saying, “I make (opponents) cry in the ring.”

Banal is 24-1 with 19 knockouts and holds the WBO’s Asia-Pacific bantamweight crown. Cave is 15-1 with five knockouts.