By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Former two division world champion Gerry "Fearless" Penalosa has dared former flyweight and super flyweight champion Eric Morel not to run when they clash in a bantamweight title eliminator for the right to challenge reigning WBO champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico.

 

The Penalosa-Morel title eliminator will be part of Top Rank promotions "Pinoy Power III" on February 13 and will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN which signed a two-year agreement to telecast all Top Rank fights in the Philippines. The agreement was signed last Friday between promoter Bob Arum and ABS-CBN Chairman and CEO Gabby Lopez during Arum’s whirlwind visit to Manila.

 

Morel had claimed that since "the winner gets the title fight I will eliminate Penalosa" which drew a retort from the veteran Penalosa who said "If I hit him hard he will run and run like some kind of coward. Tell him to stand and fight and I’ll kick his ass."

 

The 37 year old Penalosa will be coming off a gallant stand against super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Marquez in a title fight in Puerto Rico where no less than WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel praised Penalosa for his gallant stand against a much younger, bigger and stronger opponent before trainer Freddie Roach called it quits in the 9th round.

 

Penalosa who has been working out at his gym at the Market Mall in Mandaluyong City in Metro Manila said he started sparring on Wednesday against his protégé Mike Farenas and Joel Alivio and felt good.

 

The 34 year old Morel has a record of 41-2 with 21 knockouts while Penalosa the 37 year old has a record of 54-7-2 with 36 knockouts.

 

Montiel who is scheduled to fight on the same card has turned down the offer of ALA Promotions to replace Z "The Dream" Gorres whose career was ended following brain surgery after his rousing win over Colombia’s Juan Melendez, with Michael Domingo.

 

Meantime, WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire has offered to step up in weight to fight Montiel but there’s been no word as yet.

 

Donaire is scheduled to headline the "Pinoy Power III" card against Gerson Guerrero but Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler told us they were having unspecified problems with the Donaire camp and were hoping to resolve them quickly.