By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa, eager to earn a crack at the title of IBF bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez and flashy OPBF rated Z “The Dream” Gorres who fights an IBF world-rated contender 0left for Orlando, Florida yesterday to begin training under boxing’s most popular trainer James “Buddy” McGirt, the former welterweight and junior welterweight champion of the world.
Penalosa said he knew that McGirt was an excellent trainer and he was looking forward to working out under him, expressing the hope that his new-found confidence will be strengthened by the association with McGirt and lead him to a world champinship. “I want a belt before I retire” reiterated the 32 year old Penalosa who was described by Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach as being “technically superior” to Pacquiao but short on the courage and fighting heart of the Ring Magazine featherweight champion.
Gorres was excited about the chance to train under McGirt who retired in 1997 and has built a stable of top notch fighters including world champion Arturo “Thunder” G atti, one of the most exciting fighters today, former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, Sharmba Mitchell and other exciting fighters like Fernando Vargas, Hasim Rahman and Joel Casamayor. Gorres faces his first big test in the US on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Erik Morales showdown when he faces a world-rated flyweight. One of the possible opponents is IBF No. 7 Dimitru Kirlov of Russia who has a record of 26-2 with 9 KO’s. Kirlov dropped a unanimous twelve round decision to Masamori Tokuyama in a title fight some years ago. The Russian stands 5’4” and is 26 years old.
International promoter Murad Muhammad arranged the training under McGirt at the request of WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud who said he didn’t want Penalosa and Gorres whom he co-manages with wel-known Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer to take Roach’s time and attention away from Pacquiao even for a moment. Murad who will handle the promotion of Gorres and Penalosa’s fights in the US is, with the help of Salud, building a strong Asian connection and has also been given the authority to handle negotiations for US fights of WBC champion Injin Chi who recently retained his title with an impressive twelve round decision over gallant WBC Asian Youth champion Tommy Browne.
Injin Chi’a manager, respected businessman-sportsman Kusung Lee said his fighter was able to put on a great performance against the young Australian “because he had the chance to train in Cebu at the excellent ALA GYM of Tony Aldeguer. This time, unlike the last defense against Eiichi Sugama, Injin Chi was in good condition.”
