By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO Asia-Pacific head Leon Panoncillo says that former champion Gerry Penalosa who was stripped of his title for failing to defend it within one year will be ranked high up in the next ratings of the world organization.
Panoncillo informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he “ got word from my head office that Penalosa was the bantamweight champion up until April 25th, when he steped in the ring with (super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel ‘Juanma’) Lopez for the super bantamweight title.”
Panoncillo said that “interim bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel therefore, on that day Penalosa entered the ring with Lopez, then became the full-fledged WBO bantamweight champion.”
Panoncillo praised the 36 year old Penalosa for a “great effort” against a much bigger, stronger and younger Lopez but that because of Penalosa’s gallant stand the WBO “will place him respectively high up in the bantamweight division" and that he will “have an opportunity in the future, to vie for another world title.”
The WBO Asia Pacific executive said “Gerry is a good fighter and I can see him winning another world title” when he gets the chance, adding that “after what I saw in him against Lopez he would be a very dangerous fighter in the Bantamweight division for any world champion. I do wish him the best of luck in the future.”
Penalosa is still hoping to get a crack at the winner of the battle for the title between Interim champion Fernando Montiel and mandatory challenger and former world champion Eric Morel, which takes place on June 27 in Atlantic City.
