PACQUIAO SUPPORTS PE?ALOSA-DE LEON REMATCH
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 18 Aug 2007
Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao has expressed full support to Gerry Pe?alosa's plans to push for a rematch with WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, who recently kept his title with a devastating first round knockout of Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista that somehow overshadowed the Filipinos' joy in winning the World Cup over Mexico.
"Kung gusto ni Gerry ng rematch kay De Leon pabor ako diyan. Sa tingin ko, kaya niyang talunin si De Leon (I'm in favor of Gerry if he wants to have a rematch with De Leon. I think he has what it takes fo beat De Leon)," said Pacquiao, who co-manages Pe?alosa with celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach.
During their first encounter last march 17 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Pe?alosa displayed great tactical fighting skills and counter-punching ability, but lost by a highly questionable decision over 12 rounds to De Leon.
If the return bout pushes through, Pe?alosa will get a chance to avenge the stinging defeat of Bautista, who was mercilessly flattened by De Leon in the very first round to gatecrash the World Cup victory party of the Philippine fighters last Sunday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
In that same card, a vintage Pe?alosa rocked the boxing world when he sank a picture-perfect liver punch to send Gonzalez crashing into the canvass looking for oxygen tank. Referee Pat Russell waved off the bout in 2:45 of round seven as Gonzalez failed to beat the count.
Thus, Pe?alosa became the oldest Filiipino world boxing champion at 35 years old. Gerry and his older brother Dodie Boy also made history as the first siblings in Asia to win two world titles in different weight divisions. Gerry was formerly the WBC super flyweight champion, while Dodie Boy once reigned as the IBF light flyweight and flyweight titlist.
Despire his age, Pacquiao believes that Pe?alosa is still capable of fighting three to four times before hanging up his gloves.
Pacquiao also confirmed he gave Pe?alosa a US$10,000 (P450,000) bonus for snatching Gonzalez's belt.
"Tulong ko na rin yan sa kanya. Masaya din ako eh dahil naipanalo niya ang laban," said Pacquiao, who revealed that he took the amount from his winnings on the Pe?alosa fight. When asked how much was did he bet for his ward, Pacquiao qucikly answered: "It's a secret."
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was business as usual with Roach on the third day of his training yesterday at the world-class Rex "Wakee" Salud Gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city. This time, without the fiesta-like athmosphere as Roach enforced a
"closed-door" policy on Pacquiao's training.
"He (Pacquiao) still looked very sharp and impressive," remarked Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud, Pacman's confidant and business partner.
Pacquiao is gearing up his keenly-awaited rematch with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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