Pe?alosa Knocks Out Martinez
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Oct 2006
EL PASO, Texas--“The New” Gerry Pe?alosa showed why he still deserves another shot at a world title when he knocked out top rated Mauricio Martinez in the ninth round at the Don Haskins Center here.
Despite fighting with a swollen left hand as a result of his powerful delivery of a straight that knocked down Martinez right at the end of the first round, Pe?alosa showed the heart of a champion and the vast experience that won him the WBC super flyweight crown nine and a half years ago.
Pe?alosa cut his Panamanian opponent’s right eye in the third, scoring effectively with right hooks and sparingly dishing out his left straights. He also knocked down the durable Martinez in the fourth, using his potent right hand right in front of his new promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions.
Pe?alosa, now fighting at 118 lbs., scored his 51st victory and his 34th knockout in a career that spanned 17 years but still, his skill and defense impressed a huge crowd here as well as his good friend Manny Pacquiao who watched via pay-per-view television.
Pacquiao, who was instrumental in convincing Pe?alosa to make a comeback and dream of another world title, promised to give the San Carlos City native a sizeable amount as his bonus even before he faced Martinez.
“Talagang inspired ako sa ensayo at sa laban na ito sa tulong ng pamilya ko at mga kaibigan. I offer this victory to God and my countrymen,” said Pe?alosa, who brought with him his wife Goody and in-laws to this border city west of Texas.
With Hall of Fame trainer-turned-manager Freddie Roach and corner man Buboy Fernandez mapping out a game plan that negated Martinez’s vaunted jab-straight punches, Pe?alosa unleashed a barrage of punches in the ninth capped by a straight to the body and to the head that knocked Martinez out cold.
Also ecstatic with the win was Raides Neri of Davao, who helped out in the pre-fight conditioning as well as the nutritional diet that made Penalosa’s comeback a reality. Pe?alosa, who was cloistered in the apartment of Pacquiao and his brother Bobby as well as other boxers Ernel Fontanilla and Diosdado Gabi, thinks he could still win another world title.
“I will enjoy a brief vacation with my family but I will return back to training camp soon, maybe before the end of the year. I might get the chance to challenge for the world title and that depends on my manager (Roach) and promoter (Golden Boy Promotions),” said Pe?alosa.
Daniel Ponce De Leon successfully defended his WBO super bantamweight title against Al Seeger in the main event and he might be Pe?alosa’s next opponent.
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.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Thu, 10 Jul 2025