By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa 54-8-2, 36 KO’s) has reportedly turned down an offer to fight Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KO’s) in a title eliminator.
Penalosa’s manager Billy Keane told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that “it was a great fight and they were going to put it on the Sergio Mora-Shane Mosley pay-per-view showdown at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 18.”
Keane said Penalosa “turned down”a $50,000 purse even as Keane said that “there is no fight out there for $100,000” because he is a former champion and someone who is getting on in years at the age of 37 and is coming off two losses..
However, Penalosa told us he was waiting for a call from Keane on the possibility of a Mares fight.
Penalosa was forced to retire in the 9th round against WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez after a gallant stand and then dropped a WBO title eliminator by a split decision to Eric Morel.
Mares is coming off a majority draw in an IBF bantamweight title fight against Yonnhy Perez last May 2, 2010.
