Pe?alosa Faces Martinez in Crucial Match
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 Oct 2006
EL PASO, Texas--After being promised a title shot if he gets past tough contender Mauricio Martinez of Panama, “The New” Gerry Pe?alosa of the Philippines promises to give his all and score an impressive win at the Don Haskins Center here.
In a bid to win another world championship belt, Pe?alosa tries to eliminate the last man standing in front of his dream of winning another world title in another weight division.
Pe?alosa, 50-5-2, faces the battle-tested Martinez, 31-6-1, in a 10-round battle which promises brighter prospects for the winner. For Pe?alosa, he is being promised a shot at the title held by WBO super-bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.
De Leon defends his title against Al Seeger in the main event of the pay-per-view show presented by Golden Boy Promotions, which is also promoting Penalosa for the first time after the Cebuano signed up trainer Freddie Roach as his manager last month.
Pe?alosa is coming off a unanimous decision win over lanky Mexican Tomas Rojas last July in Manila while Martinez has won 12 of his last 13 fights.
Martinez, 31, and Pe?alosa, 34, tipped the scales at an identical 119 lbs. and both have been eyeing to win world titles at the twilight of their careers.
For Pe?alosa, Golden Boy Promotions Vice President Eric Gomez promised to arrange a title shot for him should Ponce De Leon and the Filipino boxer win their respective matches.
“I am inspired once again to vie for another title and with the help of my kumpare Manny Pacquiao, who has convinced me to get back in shape, I will try to win for my family, country and friends with the help of God,” said Penalosa, who has fought for only four times in the last two years.
The former WBC super-flyweight champion Pe?alosa is confident and has trained hard side by side Pacquiao at the Wild Card gym of Roach.
His corner man, Pacquiao trainer Buboy Fernandez, sees a win after watching tapes of Martinez, nicknamed “Cry Baby.”
“May mga weaknesses si Martinez at tiwala ako kay Gerry na mananalo sa laban na ito,” said Fernandez.
In his prime, Pe?alosa knocked out the same man who beat Martinez by majority decision last year--Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand--and that raises Penalosa’s confidence.
“I hope my countrymen will support and pray for me in this fight,” said Pe?alosa, who will be cheered upon by his wife and friends who drove all the way in this border town of the US and Mexico.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
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