By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa says he is looking to “a late round knockout” win over  Mexican German Meraz in an important ten-round tune-up fight as a stepping stone for his career defining battle with WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez on April 25 in Puerto Rico.

Penalosa worked out at his gym in Mandaluyong City along with IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Flash” Donaire and said Meraz reportedly “has fast hands and is a good test” for him.

The fights will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over  its pre-eminent Channel 2 at 11:30 p.m.

Penalosa who was leaving for Cebu along with Donaire in time for a press-public workout at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday said he needs “a good workout“ against Meraz and won’t push the fight early.

He said the tune-up fight arranged by North Cotabato vice governor Manny Pinol who is promoting the Cebu card along with Sammy Gello-ani was meant to make him sweat and get into his rhythm after a fairly long layoff.

Penalosa revealed that both he and Donaire were  “ in great shape and feeling good” and he is keen on giving Cebu fight fans a good show after a five year absence.

The 22 year old Meraz has a record of 20-11-1 with 8 knockouts. He won his last two fights against Juan Chabelas by TKO. Meraz stopped his Mexican foe in five rounds on November 8 and then stopped him in four rounds last December 13.

The veteran Penalosa boasts of a 53-6-2, 36 KO’s record and as always, has trained hard for this fight realizing how important it is in terms of his big title fight against the sensational Puerto Rican “Juanma” Lopez.

In the first of three supporting main events Rolando “Smooth Operator” Magnabua who is undefeated with 11 wins, 6 by knockout faces a real test against Mexico’s Jose Angel “Bocho” Cota who has a record of 6 knockouts in 8 wins with 3 defeats for the WBO Oriental bantamweight interim title.

Cota is coming off a first round knockout victory over Alejandro Padilla last October 4 and has fought some solid opponents including Luis Maldonado who fought and lost to Donaire in an IBF/IBO flyweight title bout in December 2007.