By Mark Vester

Former champ Eric Morel has a scheduled fight with veteran Ricardo Vargas on December 13 in Puerto Rico, but he's looking ahead to a mandatory title shot at WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa in 2009. After a prison stint that caused him to be away from the ring for three years, Morel returned in February and won four in a row.

"First we have to the fight in December, but then is being said that we will challenge  Penalosa in either February or March" said Cirilo Morel, father and trainer, to ESTO. "If everything turns out well with Penalosa, we are going to fight the other champions at our weight. Our goal is to unify against the others, whether they be in Japan, Philippines, or wherever they may be."

The elder Morel sees the new year as a big one for his son. 

"We expect 2009 to be a big year for us. Penalosa has no choice but to fight Eric or else he runs the risk of the WBO stripping him of the title," Cirilo said.

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