PENALOSA PREDICTS KO WINS FOR BAUTISTA, BANAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 May 2007
Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa predicted yesterday that both Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista and AJ ?Bazooka? Banal will win by knockout in their featured fights on the undercard of ?The World Awaits? mega fight card in which Oscar De La Hoya battles undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr in a box office smash hit.
Penalosa, campaigning in General Santos City for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao who is seeking the congressional seat of South Cotabato currently held by congresswoman Darlene Antonino Custodio as well as his wife Goody?s sister Shandy Llido who is running for councilor on the Pacquiao ticket, made the prediction in a long distance telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today.
Penalosa said the battle of the undefeated between Bautista and Argentinean super bantamweight champion Sergio ?Rocky? Medina is likely to see Medina hit and run but he was confident that Bautista, the WBO No. 1 who is aiming to win the title eliminator and earn a crack at champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, will eventually catch up with him and ?knock him out in the late rounds.? Penalosa noted that Medina was ?weak in the body? and if he stands and fights at the start Bautista?s body shots will take him out.
The 34 year old southpaw who gave Ponce De Leon a boxing lesson but lost a controversial decision in a title fight some months ago was even more confident over the chances of 18 year old ?Bazooka? Banal (12-0-10 KO?s) who clashes with Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas (25-2, 22 KO?s). He said ?Banal is a very hungry fighter who wants to prove himself and I believe he will win by an early knockout.?
Golden Boy Promotions says Philippine sensation ?Boom Boom? Bautista (22-0, 17 KO?s) has been ?leveling his competition, mounting an extraordinary undefeated record and near perfect knockout record, dominating the ropes against fierce contenders including veterans Marino Gonzalez, Giovanni Andrade and Robert Bonilla in his last three bouts? adding that Bautista is considered ?one of the fans and critics must-see attractions in the sport.? Medina (28-0, 16 KO?s) on the other hand was noted for an ?imposing record while crushing his competition with his speed and savvy style.?
Penalosa is hoping that both emerging ring sensations from the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer would win and help guarantee the staging of the World Cup between the Philippines and Mexico in September with Bautista battling Ponce De Leon for the WBO super bantamweight title as the main event in a four-championship card which will also feature Penalosa possibly against bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzales.
Talking about the De La Hoya-Mayweather showdown, Penalosa said the only way De La Hoya can win is by knockout but added ?it is going to be very hard because Mayweather is a terrific boxer. I want De La Hoya to win but honestly I don?t think it will happen.?
?The World Awaits? will be telecast by ABS-CBN channel 2 and will also be shown on pay-per-view on SkyCable and select theaters at Rockwell, SM Malls and Gateway.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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