GERRY PE?ALOSA: CHASING HISTORY AT TWILIGHT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Feb 2009
?Why do you want to fight Juan Manuel Lopez? What makes you think you can beat him? What do you see in his fighting style?? ? These are some of the questions that boxing pundits have been asking since news came out that Gerry Pe?alosa was moving up in weight to challenge undefeated WBO super bantamweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez.
Pe?alosa, the reigning WBO bantamweight king, finally got to answer these questions during the press conference held at the Rajah Park Hotel in Cebu City last January 31. Gerry wants this fight because this is a chance to win his third world title in three different weight categories.
Lopez (24W ? 0L, 22 KO?s) won the title by knocking out Daniel Ponce de Leon in a single round last June 2007. De Leon beat Pe?alosa by unanimous decision in March of that year. Gerry won his second world title by knocking out Jhonny Gonzales in seven rounds five months later. He sees no difference between De Leon and Lopez. Pe?alosa said he is the smarter boxer. He acknowledged that Lopez is a good fighter. But he feels can beat Lopez simply because the Puerto Rican has not faced quality opposition.
Top photo (L-R): Rolando Magbanua, Vice-Gov Manny Pinol, Gerry Penalosa, Glenn Gonzales and Jundy Maraon during Saturday's press conference at the Rajah Park Hotel in Cebu City. Photo by King Catriz.
L-R: Vice-Gov Manny Pinol, Rolando Magbanua, WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo, Glenn Gonzales and SGG's Sammy Gello-ani during Saturday's press conference at Rajah Park Hotel in Cebu City. Photo by King Catriz.
The 25 year old Lopez was last seen in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Dela Hoya match where he won by first round TKO over Sergio Medina.
Gerry is no geriatric. He will turn 38 this August but he has kept himself in good shape throughout his almost twenty year career. He could have chosen to fight easy title defenses, earn less but steady money, rather than risk it all against Lopez. But warriors like him need to be challenged. He wants to face the best before he retires. Right now, there is no bigger challenge than Lopez.
There is also a chance to make history. Manny Pacquiao is the only Pinoy boxer to win more than two world titles in different weight categories. By winning a third, Gerry can separate himself from the other Filipino two division world titlists ? his brother Dodie, who first accomplished the feat in 1987, and Luisito Espinosa.
The first step to making history will be his tune-up fight this Feb. 21 against Mexican German Meraz at the Cebu Coliseum. It will be eleven years since that fateful day when Pe?alosa won his first world title ? the WBC superflyweight belt ? from Hiroshi Kawashima of Japan. Pe?alosa (53W ? 6 L ? 2 D, 36 KO?s) is scheduled to face Lopez this April 24.
During the same press conference, North Cotabato Vice-Gov. Manny Pinol unveiled a platoon of Mindanao based boxers. He is not going to stage a hostile invasion but would like to win the hearts of the Cebuano boxing fans by showcasing his fighters on the undercard of the Feb.21 event.
Rolando ?Smooth Operator? Magbanua (11W ? O L) will face Mexican Jose Cota (8W-3L) for the interim WBO Oriental Bantamweight title. Reigning tilist Michael Domingo is on medical leave thus opening up this opportunity for Magbanua to fight for the interim title.
Another unbeaten prospect Jundy ?Pretty Boy? Maraon (12-0-1) will face Jason Egera (10-2). Glenn ?The Rock? Porras will fight Daothon Sissuey of Thailand.
Vice-Gov. Pinol?s fighters have set up training camp here in Cebu. They are mostly from No. Cotabato but he has boxers from Surigao and Zamboanga. They will be trained under the watchful eye of Nonito Donaire, Sr. These boxers are the fruits of their undergoing grassroots program in their region. Cebuano boxing fans can look forward to hearing more about these fighters and more boxing events from Braveheart Promotions this 2009.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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