FOUR TITLE FIGHTS IN WORLD CUP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Mar 2007
Golden Boy Promotions is planning four world title fights in a spectacular Philippines-Mexico World Cup showdown sometime in July or August this year either in Cebu City or the Araneta Coliseum, the “Mecca” of Philippine sports and entertainment.
The glittering trophy encrusted with thousands of tiny diamonds and worth $500,000 remains in a vault at the Union Bank in Cebu City and will be awarded to the country that wins the most fights in the head-to-head collision between the Mexican champions and the top challengers from the Philippines all of whom belong to the famed ALA Gym.
Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa who returned on Wednesday from Los Angeles after a gallant effort to wrest the WBO super bantamweight crown from Daniel Ponce De Leon said he is being groomed to challenge WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzales on the World Cup fight card.
This was confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer who said that although Pe?alosa fought what he described as “an unbelievable fight” he was too small for a fighter like Ponce De Leon and would do better fighting as a bantamweight instead of a super bantamweight.
The main event in the planned World Cup would feature emerging ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista going after the 122 pound title of Ponce De Leon. However, Bautista first has to overcome the challenge of No. 2 contender Sergio Medina in an eliminator set for May 5 on the undercard of the super-fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas. Nevada.
Also lined up for a crack at the WBC minimum weight title is veteran Bert Batawang who will clash with champion Hugo Cacerez while super flyweight Z “The Dream” Gorres will seek to avenge his hugely controversial loss to WBO champion Fernando Montiel last February 25 in a spectacular staging of the “Moment of Truth” for which respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Golden Boy Promotions and ABS-CBN drew rave reviews.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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