ERIC GOMEZ: PE?ALOSA IS INCREDIBLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Mar 2008
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez describes WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa as ?incredible.?
Gomez made the statement in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard after a visit to Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym where he watched Penalosa train for his mandatory defense against former foe Ratanachai Sor Vorapin, the former world champion who had lost the title tp Mexico's Jhonny Gonzalez, the fighter from whom Penalosa won the crown. Vorapin has a record of 72-9 ith 48 knockouts.
Gomez noted ?Penalosa is older than I am but he is just in tremendous shape all the time and he was beating up some young kids at the gym.? Penalosa is 35.
Gomez said the sparring partners belonged to a group of young fighters that Roach has in his gym and he was sparring with lefties because Vorapin is a southpaw and is ?also looking very, very good.?
The Penalosa-Vorapin world title fight will be staged by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN in cooperation with Golden Boy Promotions and the ALA Gym whose two young stars AJ ?Bazooka? Banal and Rey? Boom Boom? Bautista will be featured on the undercard in what may well be career-defining fights.
The undefeated Banal (16-0, 13 KO?s) battles unbeaten WBC Latino super flyweight champion Caril Herrera (21-0, 13 KO?) while Bautista (24-1, 17 KO?s) defends his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title against Genargo Camargo who has a record of 16-3 with 10 knockouts.
Penalosa has been training for some time now at the Wild Card Gym in preparation for a defense of the title he won by a sensational one-punch knockout over Jhonny Gonzalez in the Philippines-Mexico World Cup of boxing in Sacramento last August. The Philippines won the showdown 5-1.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
By Eric Armit, Tue, 06 May 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
Tue, 06 May 2025Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 06 May 2025Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 06 May 2025Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
Tue, 06 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
Tue, 06 May 2025IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
Tue, 06 May 2025Monster Dynamite: Inoue Crushes Cardenas in Eight
Mon, 05 May 2025"THE MONSTER" SURVIVES EARLY SCARE, DESTROYS CARDENAS IN THRILLING WAR TO RETAIN UNDISPUTED CROWN
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 05 May 2025Dana White to Promote Canelo vs. Crawford: UFC Boss Set to Elevate Superfight to Historic Levels
By T. Chin-Te, Mon, 05 May 2025Bata Reyes impressed with upcoming young players during exhibition in Libis
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 05 May 2025Canelo Wins the 'Xicoténcatl' Belt and is Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion Once Again
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 04 May 2025Florentino Inumerable rules 2025 Illinois Senior State Chess Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 04 May 2025