By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa is studying several options following his impressive performance against WBC super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon last March 18 in Las Vegas in which he dropped a unanimous but somewhat controversial points decision.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Penalosa’s wife Goody said Golden Boy Promotions was prepared to arrange a rematch with Ponce De Leon but would prefer that Penalosa fight WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez or even super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel.
Montiel won a highly controversial split decision over Z "The Dream" Gorres last February 25 in which judges Raul Caiz Jr and Chuck Giampa as well as referee Samuel Viruet were roundly condemned since it was obvious that Gorres should have been declared the winner after outboxing Montiel most of the fight.
Ms. Penalosa said her husband would return to the Philippines by Wednesday but would leave again in time to watch the “Blaze of Glory” fight card in which Manny Pacquiao will clash with undefeated but unknown Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas on April 14.
The Penalosas had lunch with Pacquiao during which the Filipino ring idol offered to promote a rematch with Ponce De Leon in the Philippines. However, it was not known how that could happen since Golden Boy handles both Ponce De Leon and Penalosa and all fights of Golden Boy in the country will have to be in partnership with well-known Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani and the ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer.
Pacquiao is promoted at the moment by Top Rank’s Bob Arum after Pacquiao junked a seven-fight contract signed in mid-September with Golden Boy and stood by a four-year agreement he signed with Arum some two months later.
