FARENAS DETERMINED TO WIN AND EARN WORLD TITLE SHOT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 Jul 2014
Hard-hitting junior lightweight Michael Farenas, a southpaw who throws devastating left hooks to the body, is determined to earn a world title shot when he battles undefeated American Mark ?Too Sharp? Davis in an IBF eliminator for a mandatory crack at the winner of the title fight rematch between champion Argenis Mendez of the Dominican Republic and former Cuban junior national champion Rances Barthelemy on July 10.
In their first meeting Barthelemy dropped Mendez twice in the second round but the knockout decision was reversed it to a ?No decision? after a video replay showed the bout ending blow was thrown after the bell to end the round.
Farenas (38-4-4, 30 KO?s) and Davis (18-0, 5 KO?s) who both tipped the scales at 130 pounds, clash in a special Wednesday edition of ESPN?s popular Friday Night Fights in a celebration of the 38th birthday of rapper turned fight promoter Curtis Jackson, better known as ?50 Cent? of SMS Promotions at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.
Davis, a former outstanding amateur throws a lot of punches and moves quickly out of range but Penalosa told the Manila Standard that Farenas during sparring at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach against former lightweight title challenger and fellow Filipino Mercito ?No Mercy Gesta, Roger ?Speedy? Gonzalez, a sparring partner of ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao and a world rated Russian believed to be IBF lightweight Intercontinental champion Andrey Klimov has learned to cut off the ring and hunt down Davis with his power shots.
Penalosa believes that Davis whose record of only 5 knockouts in 18 wins with no defeats lacks the power to hurt Farenas whose nickname ?Hammer Fist? reflects his power and his ability to throw vicious combinations.
Farenas who is a veteran of 46 fights has never been knocked out in his career and made a name for himself when he dropped Cuban Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa with a deadly counter-left during a fierce exchange in the 9th round of their WBA Interim super featherweight title fight in December 2012 although Gamboa decked Farenas twice but failed to put him away and settled for a unanimous twelve round decision.
Working the corner of Farenas will be Roach?s Filipino assistant trainer Marvin Somodio who also worked with Miguel Cotto and Ruslan Provodnikov in recent months.
Reports from ESPN on Davis said he is technically sound, moves quickly and surprises opponents with his combinations who relies on moving his body to avoid punches although the main ingredient he has lacked up to now is punching power.
On the eve of the crucial showdown, Penalosa told the Standard. Farenas was ?moving well and is feeling good? even as he added that Farenas who is hungry for recognition and a world title shot is ?ready to rumble.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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