PENALOSA SPARS 12 ROUNDS, READY FOR WBO CHAMP
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Mar 2007
Ex-WBC superfly champ Gerry Penalosa yesterday sparred for 12 rounds against Mexican sparmates, and after the grueling sessions which would be his last before he motors to Las Vegas, declared himself to be in the most perfect shape ever and announced that WBO superbantam king Daniel Ponce De Leon better be ready for a long war.
Also doing his last sparring session yesterday was Filipino Diosdado Gabi, who is seeing action on the undercard in an 8-round rumble with Colombian Giovanni Andrade.
Penalosa and Gabi, along with their small entourage, will take a 6-hour land trip to Las Vegas on Monday as they prepare for their respective assignments underneath the Marco Antonio Barrera-Juan Manuel Marquez WBC superfeatherweight tiff dubbed 'Fearless.'
Supervising yesterday's sparring sessions at the Wild Card Gym were Justin Fortune and Macka Foley, who have been tasked to oversee the boxers' preparations in the absence of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach, who is in Puerto Rico training Oscar De la Hoya.
Roach, however, will fly into Las Vegas to be at the corner of both Penalosa and Gabi, two fighters whom he also manage.
Gerry Pe?alosa (left) with Mexican sparmate at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles. Photo by Jeff de Guzman.
Jeff De Guzman, a constant visitor at the Wild Card Gym, reported that he has never seen Penalosa so dedicated and so prepared for a fight, and expects the Filipino to snatch the crown from Ponce De Leon.
De Guzman also stated that Gabi, who lives with Penalosa, also looked menacing in the sparring session and should have no problem dealing with Andrade, whom Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista stopped last December 2 in Tampa, Florida.
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