ROACH COMING IN FOR PENALOSA TITLE DEFENSE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Apr 2008
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is flying in for one day to be in the corner of WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa when he makes the first defense of his title against tough former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday morning.
Roach who failed to work the corner of Penalosa when he fought WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon because he was in Puerto Rico training Oscar De La Hoya at that time in preparation for De La oya?s blockbuster showdown with Floyd Mayweather, felt a little guilty when Penalosa told him later ?coach, if you were there would have won the fight.?
This time, even though Roach is busy training Bernard Hopkins he decided to take a quick trip to Manila merely to be in Penalosa?s corner.
Penalosa?s manager Billy Keane told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today ?Freddie is going to come over for one day because he really loves Gerry and wants to be here for him.?
Roach who trains Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has said in the past that he believes Penalosa is technically the best Filipino boxer. Keane said both he and Roach consider Penalosa ?a masterful boxer and Freddie and Gerry really have a special relationship.?
Looking ahead to Sunday?s title defense Keane said he is expecting ?a typical Penalosa fight. Very intelligent boxing and when his opponent makes a mistake Gerry will exploit the mistake and be very devastating with his power ?as he demonstrated in his one-punch, sixth round knockout of champion Jhonny Gonzales to win the title last August 11 in Sacramento, California.
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