PE?ALOSA'S TITLE DEFENSE MAY HAVE TO WAIT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 May 2008
WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa 56-6, 36 KO?s) may have to wait for a couple of months more before he defends his title.
While there is a tentative July 19 date for him to fight Isidro (25-4-2, 8 KO?s), Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that Golden Boy Promotions wants Penalosa to wait for the outcome of the title defense of WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon whom Penalosa has time and again said he wants to fight, expressing confidence that he can beat Ponce De Leon whom he battled for twelve rounds last year.
Ponce De Leon fights undefeated Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 KO?s) at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City on June 7.
There also appears to be a conflict over the date since AJ "Bazooka" Banal is scheduled to fight Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the vacant WBA junior bantamweight title on that same date at the Cebu City Coliseum. Both Banal and Penalosa are handled by Golden Boy Promotions.
Meantime, former world flyweight champion Eric Morel (37-2, 19 KO?s) is targeting a bout with Penalosa, according to Mark Vester of the widely-read website Boxing Scene.
Vester said not only does Morel want a bout with Penalosa, he?s willing to travel to the Philippines for the title opportunity. Vester quoted Morel as telling Primera Hora ?that is the fight I want. It doesn?t matter where it takes place. Penalosa is the one I want and I don?t have the smallest doubt that I will be a world champion again. I know time is passing by, so I want to fight as often as possible to work my way to a shot.?
However, the concern was that a Penalosa-Morel fight won?t be attractive to fans because of Morel?s style which is also that of a boxer and counter-puncher which is similar to Penalosa?s style. Penalosa looks good against an aggressive opponent who likes to come in.
Morel is scheduled to fight Evaristo Primero (14-11-1, 4 KO?s) in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico today. The fight against Primero will be Morel?s third fight this year after he resumed his career following a three-year layoff due to legal problems.
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