By Rey Danseco
FORMER world champion Gerry Peñalosa follows the popular Pacquiao brothers to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California to intensify his preparations for his scheduled fight next month.
Peñalosa is training for the first time in four years under the eagle eyes of American trainer Freddie Roach. He also takes help from Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, who is Manny and Bobby Pacquiao’s personal trainer and assistant.
The 33-year old former World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight champion will make his first fight this year and fourth since coming off retirement.
The Parañaque-based Peñalosa will face former Mexican super flyweight champion Tomas Rojas for 10-round confrontation as part of the undercard to the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight on July 2 at the fabled Araneta Coliseum.
Peñalosa previously trained at the well-known sweatshop along Vine Street in Hollywood in the last quarter of 2002 for his second failed attempt to regain the WBC 115-pound diadem from Japan-based North Korean Masamori Tokuyama, in a rematch on December 20, 2002 at the Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan. Peñalosa’s first attempt to recapture the WBC belt was against his tormentor, Injo Cho on January 2, 2000 in Seoul, South Korea.
After Bobby Pacquiao spars, Peñalosa also did his sparring session yesterday along with newcomer Filipino Ernel Fontanilla, who will also see action on July 2nd. Fontanilla (8-3, 6 KOs) faces Ariel Delgado (7-2, 2 KOs) in 119-lb 8-round rumble.
Peñalosa is eyeing to improve his current position as No. 10 ranked by the International Boxing Federation as he aims for another shot at world title and regain his lofty status in boxing.
But Rojas looms as a hard nut to crack being 3-inches taller at 5-foot-8 and 8-years the junior at 25-years old, compared to Peñalosa, an aging 5-foot-5, 33-year old southpaw.
Rojas lost his last two fights, split decision and unanimous decision against respective unbeaten fighters Luis Maldonado of Mexico in October and Jose “Miau” Nieves of Puerto Rico in April. He has packed with 22 wins against eight loses and 14 knockouts.
Peñalosa has 49-5-2, 33 KOs. He defeated his first two opponents from Thailand via short route and earned a unanimous decision win over Paraguayan Dario “El Indio de Oro” Azuaga in his last appearance in December.
