PE?ALOSA SET TO FIGHT ON MAY 31, BACK TO THE GYM TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 Apr 2008
World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry "Fearless" Pe?alosa is set to return to the gym today in anticipation of a possible May 31 fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.
"Ugma mobalik nako sa gym," (Tomorrow I'm going back to the gym), Pe?alosa told this writer in a long-distance interview yesterday.
The San Carlos City-raised Penalosa is coming off a successful defense of his WBO title with an eighth-round TKO over Thailand's Ratanachai Sor Vorapin last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Prompted by a possible May 31 outing in Las Vegas, Pe?alosa says he cannot afford to be caught off-guarded in case the fight indeed pushes through.
"There are plans for me to fight on May 31 in Las Vegas. I should be ready," Pe?alosa indicated, referring to the Golden Boy Promotions card at the Mandalay Bay headlined by the Shane Mosley-Zab Judah encounter.
Also on the card is Pe?alosa's possible future foe Abner Mares of Mexico, who is aching for a chance to challenge Penalosa even in the country.
Among those short-listed to face Mares in the May 31 card include African Silence Mabuza and ex-world champs Rosendo Alvarez and Martin Castillo.
Pe?alosa, however, has reiterated his intention to face WBO superbantam champ Daniel Ponce De Leon in a rematch of their highly-disputed first encounter.
"Gusto ko sya makalaban uli. Alam ko panalo ako sa first meeting namin. I want to put closure into this," Pe?alosa told the media moments after beating Vorapin last Sunday.
Top photo: Gerry Pe?alosa (L) looks for an opening against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin during their fight last April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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