By Ronnie Nathanielsz
World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa may defend his title once again in the Philippines with a possibility that the bout may be staged in Cebu.
Well known promoter Sammy Gello-ani who works closely with Golden Boy Promotions said trainer Freddie Roach and Penalosa’s American manager Billy Keane had mentioned the name of former world champion Martin “El Gallo” Castillo as the possible opponent. Another name they “were also talking about" is Cecilio “Boga” Santos who had a majority draw with IBF super flyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov” last February 28.
Santos is a 29-year-old Mexican who is ranked No. 11 by the WBO and has a record of 22-8-3 with 12 knockouts. He battled WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel on July 14, 2007 and lost by a tenth round TKO.
Castillo who, like Santos, is also a super flyweight and is ranked No. 9 by the WBO is 31 years old and has a record of 33-3 with 17 knockouts although he too lost to WBO champion Montiel by a fourth round knockout in a title fight last February 16.
Gello-ani said that there was nothing definite as yet but revealed that Penalosa had expressed his desire to defend his title once again before hometown fans following his smashing eighth round TKO victory over mandatory challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin last April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum in a telecast by ABS-CBN which rated a remarkable 32 percent.
Penalosa won the title with a stunning seventh round, one punch knockout over Jhonny Gonzales in Sacramento, California on August 11, 2007. Penalosa who turns 36 in August has a record of 53-6-2 with 36 knockouts and although he has often said he wants a rematch with WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon indications are Ponce De Leon is asking for far too much money thereby scuttling any hope of staging the fight in Manila.
