ROACH WON'T BE IN GERRY'S CORNER; PREDICTS PE?ALOSA TO WIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 Mar 2007
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach won’t be in the corner of former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa when he battles WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon on Sunday, Manila Time, at the Mandalay Bay Arena.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from Las Vegas, Pe?alosa’s wife Goody said she had been told that Roach would not be in Pe?alosa’s corner but that his trusted assistant Justin Fortune would be there.
However, in a telephone call from Puerto Rico where he is busy training Oscar De La Hoya for his massive showdown with Floyd Mayweather on May 5, Roach wished Pe?alosa all the best and said "without a doubt Gerry will become champion." Campos quoted Roach as saying "He will kill this guy (Ponce De Leon)" who he believes doesn’t have the advantages that will help him retain his title. Roach added "Gerry is still one of the best pure boxers out there and he will prove it to everyone come fight night."
Ms. Pe?alosa said while she was "very nervous" her 34 year old husband was both confident and excited. This was confirmed by journalist Winchell Campos in an email to The Standard. Campos said Pe?alosa did some light workout on Thursday afternoon at the IBA Gym and was already within the 122 pound limit when he weighed in at an unofficial scale "flashing a smile."
Campos quoted Pe?alosa as saying "I believe this fight will not go the distance. I know I must win convincingly in order to take the title and winning by knockout will eliminate all other complications."
For his part Ponce De Leon who is younger, bigger and stronger than Penalosa said he respected Penalosa because he is a former champion and he has "excellent boxing skills. But I have prepared hard for this fight too and this calls for a very exciting finish. I also think I will win by knockout."
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