PENALOSA OPENS ANOTHER GYM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Jun 2011
Gerry Penalosa with his family.
Former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa, one of the most skilled Filipino boxers of all time, wants to give the sport the benefit of his experience and his ability and has opened a new gym located on the third floor, Acropolis Building in Libis, Quezon City in right next to MetroBank and opposite Shopwise.
Its Penalosa's third gym. He has one in Paranaque purely for pro boxers and another at Marketplace along Kalentong in Mandaluyong City where both pounbd-for-pound king Manny Pzcquiao and WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire have trained in the past.
Penalosa told Viva Sports at the blessing of the gym on Saturday afternoon that "as long as there is boxing, we are truly alive."
Penalosa who reigned as WBC super flyweight champion and later WBO bantamweight champion that the new gym was mainly a commercial enterprise because he had to pay brent for the site, electricity and water and all other amenities while at the same time helping boxers.
He said the gym would cater to middle level executives both men and women who wanted to get into shape and stay fit.
Penalosa said that if there are boxers who wish to learn and enhance their careers "the gym is open for them anytime."
He said there were a handful of fighters, some of them new, including his protege Michael Farenas and expressed confidence that "in the next three to five years we'll develop a world champion."
Penalosa disclosed that Farenas had an offer to fight on the Brian Viloria- "Pingo" Miranda world flyweight title fight in Honolulu on July 19 on a Solar Sports fight card and that he would know by this week whether the fight will push through.
He said he was "impressed" with the performance of Farenas in his last fight but stressed to Farenas that he must impress his promoter - Top Rank - if he wants to become a world title contender and face someone like Yuriorkis Gamboa, the reigning featherweight champion.
Penalosa said he wants Farenas to fight Gamboa and that although "its a difficult fight because Gamboa is quick and has superb talent, excellent timing and hits hard his style is amateurish and difficult to hit."
However, he said winning was a possibility because the southpaw Farenas is "courageous, strong, has power and if he catches Gamboa it will be all over."
Penalosa conceded that Farenas has to be "more aggressive, throw more combinations and many more punches if he wants to become a world boxing champion ."
Farenas is currently training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles with trainer Jesse Arevalo as assistant coach.
Penalosa said he believes that Roach wouldn't handle a fighter unless he believes the fighter has a chance of becoming a world champion.
He said "I myself help Farenas because I know he has a chance of becoming a world champion and that's the same thing with Freddie."
Penalosa said he expects his nephew Dodieboy Penalosa Jr to become a world champion and also had high hopes for young light flyweight Ren Ren Ruiz who is undefeated in five fights.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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