FARENAS TARGETS ANOTHER WORLD TITLE SHOT
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 Dec 2013
Saying that a third strike, like in baseball, might send his career to complete oblivion and end what started as a promising boxing career , Filipino super-featherweight Michael Farenas promised to take full advantage of a third chance given him to win for himself and the country a world championship.
Days after scoring a sensational second round knockout triumph over Mexican Jesus Rios last weekend, Farenas, already 29, has again been seen frequenting the gym for what he said ?not to lose the momentum of his second stoppage win in a span of two months in the same distance.
Only last October, Farenas, who failed in his first two attempts for a world crown, also made short work of Thai Kosol Sor Vorapin, sending his hapless opponent to dreamland in the second stanza.
?Buhay na naman ang pag-asang makalaban sa world championship kaya habang maaga makapaghanda na,? Farenas told this writer in an interview last Wednesday ?Dapat maipakita sa mga promoter ko na talagang determinado ako na manalo ng kampeonato.?
Farenas, known as ?Hammer Fist? owing to his heavy hands as shoes in his 34-4-4 win-loss-draw slate with 28 KOs, was referring to the MAG Pacman International Boxing Promotions, whose men behind ? eight-division world champ Manny Pacquiao, businessman-sportsman Anson Tiu Co and eight-division titlist Gerry Penaslosa -- are responsible for the resurgence of his career.
?At saka dapat na rin naman talaga akong maging mas seryoso sa career ko ngyon kasi baka huling pagkakataon ko na itong ibinibigay nila,? he reasoned out.
Co and Penalosa, for their part, said MAG will be leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that their ward will have a crack at the WBC 130-pound belt presently owned by Mexican Mickey Garcia before the end of 2014.
Co, owner of the Cooyeesan Hotel in Baguio City where the Shape Up Boxing Gym, considered as Pacquiao?s home while in Pines City, is located, and Penalosa, who once held the world bantamweight and superflyweight crowns, chorused that talks have already begun for the plan pitting Farenas against Garcia to be realized.
Farenas though has to survive Juan Manuel Lopez in a World Boxing Organization interim matchup to earn a crack at a legitimate title.
?First things first, sabi nga. So yun muna ang gagawin naming, arrange that interim fight early next year then work on the title meeting with Garcia,? Co said in a separate interview.
?Ganun na nga,? Penalosa said. ?Mas maganda nga yun kasi mas magiging maganda ang preparasyon ni Michael kung lalaban pa siya minsan before a tile match.?
Farenas rose to international fame when he gallantly held his own before losing a title-bout to Yuriorkis Gamboa on a close decision last year in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV in Las Vegas.
Prior to that, the hard-hitting Filipiino settled for a technical draw decision go Japanese Takashi Uchiyama in his first try for a world crown.
MAG?s efforts to bring the Philippines? back on top of boxing world won?t be limited to Farenas, according to Co and Penalosa, who added that brothers Dodie Boly Penalosa Jr. and Dave Penalosa as well as Richard Pumicpic, all super-bantamweight campaigners, are in the equation.
Dodie Boy Jr., had just completed his 12-0 professional record since turning pro,with a technical decision victory over Alem Robles, also of Solaire Casino and Resort Hotel, the same venue where Pumpicpic demolished Luis Lugo in that PH vs. Mexico ?First Blood? initial offering of MAG.
David, the youngest of the two fighting sons of two-time world champion Dodie Boy Sr., owns an impressive 7-0 record.
Co and Penalosa said they will be meeting with Pacquiao, who just celebrated his 35th birthday last Dec. 17 late this week and next week to map out plans for MAG?s calendar of activities in 2014.
?Maraming plano at, thanks for the success of our first project, medyo ginanahan kaming tatlo na talagang i-pursue an gaming pangarap kaya naming tinatag ang MAG,? the duo chorused.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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