FARENAS BATTLES UNDEFEATED MIKEY GARCIA IN WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Jan 2012
Michael Farenas.
Former two division champion Gerry Penalosa?s prot?g? Michael ?Hammer Fist? Farenas battles undefeated North American Boxing Federation and WBO North American Boxing Organization featherweight champion Miguel Angel ?Mikey? Garcia at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 10 in what is being billed as a world title eliminator..
The main event features a title rematch between WBO champion Orlando Salido of Mexico and Puerto Rco?s former champion from whom Salido won the title, Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez. Salido won the title in a stunning 8th round TKO last April 16, 2011.
Should Farenas win on the Top Rank promotion he is almost certain to title shot at the winner of the Salido-Lopez rematch.
Penalosa told the Manila Standard that Garcia was a courageous fighter and predicted it would be a good fight. He said Farenas had been training for a fight on January 28 but he decided to pull him out for the bigger challenge against Garcia.
Penalosa said that should Farenas win he is likely to get a title shot by June.
Farenas trains at the Penalosa Gym in Eastwood and spars every other day under the watchful eye of his uncle and brother of Gerry, Jonathan Penalosa who used to be a member of Team Donaire but can?t apparently get a visa to return to the US. .
Penalosa said he had asked Farenas what he thought about fighting Garcia who has a record of 27-0 with 23 knockouts compared to Farenas? record of 33-3-3 with 26 knockouts and that the hard-hitting southpaw told him ?it will be a good fight. I like it.?
Penalosa said Farenas would receive a purse of $50,000 and ?if he wins it will be big in terms of his career advancement? even as he admitted that Garcia who is the brother of former world champion and Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire?s trainer Robert Garcia ?is a brawler and is strong.?
At the same time Penalosa said he believes Garcia is better than either Lopez or Salido.
Farenas won the Philippine featherweight title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Edgar Gabejan last October 1 after earlier scoring an eight round decision over touted Mexican Fernando Beltra.
Garcia is coming off back-to-back stoppages winning the NABF/WBO NABO titles via a 4th round knockout of Rafael Guzman at the Staples Center on June 4, 2011 before winning by a 4th round TKO over Juan Carlos Martinez at the Theater of Madison Square Garden on October 22, 2011.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Thailand to host WBC 63rd Annual Convention in Phuket in November
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 30 Apr 2025Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Wed, 30 Apr 2025Raymond Muratalla: "I’m Ready to Show Out on May 10!"
Wed, 30 Apr 2025Training Camp Notes: Undefeated Lightweight Kaipo Gallegos Prepares for Clash with Pedro Castaneda Castro on May 9 in Orlando
Wed, 30 Apr 2025“THE KING OF THE FOUR ROUNDERS” ERIC “BUTTERBEAN” ESCH TO ATTEND 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Wed, 30 Apr 2025Action Summary Week Ending 28 April 2025
By Eric Armit, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Butler, Green Show Up on Rockets in 109-106 Win
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Jerusalem Leads Five Pinoys in Ring's Ratings; Japan Dominates the Lower Weights Class
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Dableo Second in Sydney Standard Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Dreamland: Where Filipino Fists Lit Up San Francisco Nights
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 28 Apr 2025IM Concio wins Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025