'INVADERS' PROMISE IT'S GONNA BE A WAR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Apr 2008
If Filipino fight fans think that the cream of the crop led by WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa are going to walk over the fighters from five different countries who will do battle in the ?Invasion ? Philippines vs The World? fight card on Sunday morning, they may be in for a surprise.
To begin with a menacing-looking former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin who lost his title to Mexico?s Jhonny Gonzales who in turn was stunned by Pe?alosa in a one-punch, sixth round knockout says he came to Manila ?to win and take the belt back to Bangkok.?
Ratanachai who engaged Pe?alosa in a close battle in a WBC International super flyweight title fight at Casino Filipino in November 2000 remembers that he show-boated and got tagged and vowed never to make the same mistake again.
Pe?alosa himself conceded that Ratanachai was probably the hardest puncher he has faced and is a tough fighter. But the WBO champion who said he expects to feed off the hometown crowd told a well-attended press conference at the Mandarin Suites at Gateway Mall yesterday that he doesn?t intend to lose because he has two big money fights ahead of him this year and plans to retire undefeated.
Pe?alosa said while he is totally focused on Sunday?s fight, a rematch with WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon and Israel Vasquez are in the works should he get by Ratanachai. But the Thai and his Filipino trainer, former boxer Jojo Palacio promised to shock Pe?alosa saying Pe?alosa talks too much and will find out who the real champion is on Sunday.
By all accounts, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal?s IBF super flyweight eliminator has the makings of a battle royale since undefeated Caril ?El Raton? Herrera not only hits hard but comes at you non-stop. Internationally respected matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz predicted a slam-bang affair but the fact that Herrera missed his flight and arrived late yesterday morning after a long and tiring journey from Uruguay may tell on him at fight time.
WBC secretary general Mauricio Sulaiman told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the undefeated Herrera ( 21-0, 13 KO?s) had twice received offers to fight Mexican warrior Jorge Arce and stylish Christian Mijares but ?decided not to take them as he wants to be ready? and his handlers believe that after he beats Banal he will be ready for a world title shot.
Sulaiman said Herrera ?is a hero in Uruguay? but Banal said he was not awed by the reputation of his opponent and was ready to take him out whenever he finds an opening.
Mexico?s Genaro Camargo who has 10 knockouts in 13 wins with 3 defeats said he has prepared long and hard for the clash with WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista and promised to give him the fight of his life.
Camargo?s manager Fernando Dominguez said his fighter ?is shy and doesn?t talk much but he does his talking in the ring with his fists and is ready to rumble.?
The blockbuster fight card is being presented by the pre-eminent Philippine broadcast network ABS -CBN in cooperation with Golden Boy Promotions which is regarded as the finest promotional outfit in the world and the respected ALA Gym with the assistance of well-known boxing promoter and manager Sammy Gello-ani.
Also on the card are promising WBO Oriental junior featherweight champion Ciso ?Kid Terrible? Morales who faces South Korea?s Yoo Shin Kim, former world junior flyweight title challenger Bert Batawang who goes up against rugged Indonesian Heri Amol who faced former world champion Yo Sam Choi who suffered a brain injury and died three days after the fight and RP bantamweight champion Michael Domingo who takes on Thailand?s Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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