ROACH -"WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE WORLD CUP TO THE PHILIPPINES"
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Aug 2007
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach says "we're gonna take the World Cup to the Philippines" in what he predicted would be a ?great battle" when the pride of the Philippines battle the warriors from Mexico at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California Sunday morning, Manila Time.
The giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN will cover the four major fights on the exciting card ?live? over its pre-eminent Channel 2 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with veteran broadcasters Sev Sarmenta and Dyan Castillejo teaming up with newly crowned IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire at ringside. Hosting the Manila end will be well-known TV news and public affairs personality Korina Sanchez.
Roach said legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera who will captain the Mexican team will be at special ringside and that Roach and the great Oscar De La Hoya would fly to Los Angeles on a private plane to pick up Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao who will act as the skipper of Team Philippines in the eagerly awaited shiowdown.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Roach said the six-man Philippine team was ?doing fine? although they were disappointed that Bert Batawang?s light flyweight title eliminator had to be called off because his opponent was found to have detached retinas during the medical checkup.
Roach said emerging ring sensation, undefeated Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista's (23-0, 17 KO's)?s title fight against reigning WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1, 28 KO's) should be a dandy and that ?whoever lands first will take it and it will be a great action fight because both fighters have big hearts.?
He conceded that Ponce De Leon who scored a unanimous decision over former world super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa some months ago and had a hard time is ?a very tough guy. Both Bautista and Ponce De Leon are well conditioned fighters and have trained really hard.?
Roach said the outcome of the fight will be decided by ?who has the better chin.?
On the WBO bantamweight battle between Penalosa (51-6-2, 34 KO's) and WBO champion Jhonny Gonzales (34-5, 29 KO's) Roach was enamored with Penalosa?s chances saying ?I don?t bet too often in my life but I'm betting on Penalosa to win with odds at 4 to 1. ? He said Penalosa was looking really good adding ?he?ll kill him? even though Gonzales is much taller than the Filipino southpaw.
Roach said Penalosa ?will go to the body early, break him down and possibly knock him out.? As for Z ?The Dream? Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KO's) he predicted ?an easy win" over former WBC light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KO's) who has moved up to super flyweight. Roach was confident that Gorres would ?win by a shutout.?
He said Diosdado Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KO's) who fights Jose Angel Beranza (30-9, 25 KO's) is "a good puncher and should win by a knockout" while he described AJ "Bazooka" Banal (13-0-1, 10 KO's)who clashes with Jorge Cardenas who has a record of (9-3-3 with 6 KO's) as "a good kid who works hard and is the best prospect out here."
Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo (31-14-2, 12 KO's) who takes on undefeated Miguel Roman (22-0, 16 KO's) is expected to have the toughest fight among the six Filipinos considering the record of Roman and his ability and punching power but is capable of pulling off an upset.
Top photo caption: 2-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach (L) and the Philippines' Gerry Penalosa relaxes at the Sacramento Kings dugout before entering at yesterday's press conference for this Saturday's world cup of boxing at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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