FORMER two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa is willing to fight again but he made it clear that he will only entertain an offer if there will be a world title on the line.The 36-year old resident of Paranaque City in Metro Manila in the Philippines was offered to see action on the planned card of Top Rank and Solar Sports in either Araneta Coliseum or Ynares Center in Antipolo City on August 29, not at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City as originally planned.
Penalosa (54-7-2, 36 KOs) confirmed in an exclusive interview yesterday that he was told to prepare for a possible bout, and the three possible options include a rematch against Daniel Ponce de Leon (36-7-2, 31 KOs) of Mexico, a clash against his fellow world champ Eric “Hands of Steel” Morel (41-2, 21 KOs) of Puerto Rico or a collision against another popular Mexican, Jorge “Travieso” Arce (52-5-1, 40 KOs).
“We’ll know the final decision on who will be my opponent next week,” said Penalosa. “I don’t have idea on who will be our next opponent. I only wanted to fight for a title fight.”
Penalosa fought four of his last five fights since 2007 for world championship bouts. He lost two of those bouts against De Leon and the current champion Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez of Puerto Rico with the WBO super bantamweight title were on the lines.
The former WBC super flyweight champ and WBO bantamweight king revealed he keeps on training and staying fit.
“I’m always ready to fight. I maintain my weight at 128 pounds when I don’t have fight,” said Penalosa, who maintains a gym in Kalentong, Mandaluyong City .
DENVER CUELLO VS ERIK RAMIREZ; VILORIA VS LAZARTE
Bob Arum also wants IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria and WBC International minimumweight champ Denver Cuello to complete the cast of the planned three-title bout card.
Viloria (25-2, 15 KOs) has on-going negotiations for a title defense against 38-year old Alberto Lazarte (43-9-1, 18 KOs) of Argentina.
Cuello’s team picked Mexican Erik Ramirez, who lost on points in a title fight against WBO minimumweight champ Donnie Nietes in Oaxaca, Mexico .
Ramirez went down four times but managed to go the distance.
The card was originally planned to be staged at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City but Solar Sports executives believe, Manila or nearby province remains the more strategic venue for a huge boxing show.
This writer also reported that WBA No. 10 Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco (17-0, 13 KOs) wants to fight Arce on Sept. 6 at Cuneta Astrome in Pasay City after the Los Mochis-native improved his unblemished 6-0, 4 KOs record against Filipino opponents on June 27 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Francisco’s fight will be for the vacant WBA International super flyweight title.
Every Filipino wants to end Arce’s winning streak against Filipino fighters after he piled up a streak against Jovan Presbitero, Carmelo Caceres, Juanito Rubillar twice, Joma Gamboa and Fernando “Poe” Lumacad.
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