By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa looked exceptionally sharp working on the punch-mitts with brother and former outstanding boxer Jonatan Penalosa at Penalosa’s gym at the Mall in Mandaluyong City Monday afternoon.
Penalosa faces probably the toughest fight of his career against WBO super bantamweight champion, undefeated knockout artist Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez in Puerto Rico on April 25.
The 36 year old veteran was not the same fighter we saw when he scored a ten round unanimous decision over workhorse German Meraz of Mexico in a dull and boring encounter where Meraz kept running all night long and refused to engage Penalosa.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told us this time it will be different and Penalosa won’t have to worry because Lopez will be right in front of him. Penalosa told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports after his workout that this “I have to train hard and not be overconfident because this is a big fight .”
Penalosa said “one thing about Lopez is I like his style. That’s my favorite, a fighter who comes forward. But I won’t have a problem even if he runs because we have a plan “B” to deal with that.”
Penalosa said that moving up from 118 to 122 will pose no problems and would in fact give him more punching power against Lopez whom he described as “a rising star of Top Rank.”.
The two-division world champion who once held the WBC super flyweight title said “I expect to win and I want one more big fight before I quit.”
Donaire expressed confidence that Penalosa would take over the fight against Lopez because “one thing for sure Lopez is untested and he’s going to run.” Donaire also pointed out that Lopez had been dropped a few times when fighting as an amateur and his chin was suspect and that’s why he was sure than once Penalosa “catches him with a solid punch he’s going to run.”
