By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa said late Saturday while watching the OPBF title defense of minimum weight champion Rodel Mayol, "I want a championship belt before I retire" and said he plans to get one when he starts training in the US next month under the famed trainer of super lightweight champion Buddy McGirt in Orlando, Florida along with flashy Z "The Dream" Gorres.
Penalosa's statement clearly meant he didn't consider the World Boxing Federation championship belt he won some months ago worth as much as a belt from any of the other major world organizations. Penalosa who was described by trainer Freddie Roach as a "technically superior fighter" to Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao said he wanted IBF champion Rafael Marquez very badly. The normally soft-spoken Penalosae said if the brother of WBA/IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez was ready to fight, "I'm ready to brawl. I'm going to kick his ass. I know he's good but I know I can beat him if I want to."
When reminded that Marquez was a terrific fighter, Penalosa replied that Marquez had lost two fights by knockout and "he's only human." Penalosa stressed that he is once again "a hungry fighter" adding "I know what I need to do to beat him" even as he admitted he could also do with some money. The 32 year old southpaw said he realizes that he needs perhaps one tune-up fight in the US before taking on Marquez because his comeback fights have been "against patsies even though he holds the WBF belt."
Penalosa also conceded that he couldn't get the best out of himself while being trained by his brother, former two-time world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa and said the stint under McGirt was certain to do him a world of good. Penalosa also made it clear that he has no manager right now but indicated as long as I have Atty. Rudy Salud to guide me I don't need a manager. Salud and Penalosa announced their retirement simultaneously in December 2003 after Penalosa lost a controversial decision to Masanori Tokuyama in Japan, but early this year Penalosa saying I still have the fire in me decided to return to the ring.
