By Salven L. Lagumbay
LAS VEGAS--WBO bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa and brash Mexican
former world champion Jorge "Travieso" Arce nearly came to blows Saturday night here after the bout involving their compatriots Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao had prevailed over the legendary Barrera via an easy unanimous decision victory that sent Barrera into retirement.
Sources indicate that after the fight, Arce and Penalosa cross paths while on their way out of the Mandalay Bay Events Center, and when both fighters came close to each other, the Mexican immediately came up to Penalosa and challenged the latter to a fight.
"I want to fight you! Let's fight," a source quoted Arce as telling Penalosa, who was accompanied to the fight by wife Goody and Japanese associate Kosuke Washio.
Goody Penalosa had to intervene when her husband came into Arce's direction, which had witnesses worrying a riot would ensue between the fighters and their respective companions.
"Goody looked very worried. She pulled Gerry immediately to avoid a confrontation," the source added.
Arce was reportedly irked when one spectator told him upon seeing Penalosa that the Filipino fighter is more popular than him, and will beat him in a fight.
The proud Mexican apparently did not find the comments to his liking, and immediately confronted the Filipino world champion.
Penalosa is being groomed to face WBO superbantamweight ruler Daniel Ponce De Leon in a grudge rematch sometime February next year in the Philippines, according to Golden Boy Promotions vice-president Eric Gomez in an interview here.
A possible bout between Penalosa and Arce will definitely be popular among fans, owing to the solid fan base they enjoy among die-hard Filipino and Mexican supporters.
Gerry was 35 years old when he made De Leon look like a fool. What De Leon did to Bautista has nothing to do with this rematch. Bautista was nothing but an overhyped statue. If Penalosa loses again, it's really because he's way too old, for chrissakes Gerry is older than MAB and EM . When this fight materializes, for all we know Gerry will be friggin' 37.
I wouldn't be surprised if De Leon beats Penalosa, but it ain' gonna be the kind of beatdown you envision. Hell, I wouldn't throw out the idea of a Penalosa upset. De Leon ain't got no skills, no talent, but alot of stamina and his size, just like the first fight, Deleon's size and energy will again be a factor against an aging, over-the-hill Gerry.
Umm, Lets not forget who ran the last 3-4 rounds in their first fight(LOL). That's right, the young, energetic, talentless De Leon found himself running ,trying to avoid an aging, beautiful master counter-puncher in Gerry.
Just exactly what did you see in De Leon's last performance, which wasn't really long enough to get a good look if De Leon added anything to his repertoire.
Bautista - an inexperienced, stationary target, never fought under the big lights.
Penalosa - brilliant counter-puncher, vast experience, now 3-time champ, moves well in the ring, terrific defense.
Deleon's advantage is not his boxing skills(lol), it ain't his god-given talent(lol). he's simply too big, too strong, too sloppy, but lots of activity in the ring. This was obviously enough in the eyes of the judges the last time.
Penalosa will have to take more risks this time around and be busier.
or he can stop time and aging as well.
wtf is goin on in insides yall retards head, i mean penalosa got lucky by landing that body shot on jhonny while he was way behind on the scorecards. ok so he wins but yall people make it seem as penalosa has been an big time fighter or someone whos gonna outslug deleon. the guy just got a title and he wants to call the shots lmfao.
imho Arce is the best fight for Gerry and may/could? equal what he can get on the deleon fight...
but if ever he fights deleon again it will be similar to the first...
I don't think Gerry should be fighting Ponce De Leon.
He should be focusing in his own weight class.
Ponce De Leon has learned from their first fight and
Gerry will have a very difficult time next time around.
De Leon ain't got no skills, no talent, but alot of stamina and his size, just like the first fight, Deleon's size and energy will again be a factor against an aging, over-the-hill Gerry.
No matter how mediocre he may look in the ring stylewise, to say the Ponce de Leon has NO skill and NO talent is pretty harsh. I would think that any fighter who's gotten as far as he has and won a world title belt has some sort of skill and talent. It might not be the prettiest, but he does what he has to do. Which is usually but a severe beatdown on his opponents...usually. :boxing:
Is the Ponce-Gerry set already? If not, this incident might be to hype up Arce and Gerry if they ever face each other.
Still I would prefer Donaire-Arce and Penalosa-De leon.
Is the Ponce-Gerry set already? If not, this incident might be to hype up Arce and Gerry if they ever face each other.
All I've heard is a bunch of speculation since the De Leon/Bautista and Penalosa/Gonzalez fights.
the penalosa fight was only in march... and i didn't think he looked that much better against lopez.
Trust me, Daniel is not the same guy and would absolutely crush Penalosa in a rematch. He's well aware of the public opinion on the first fight, and after the Lopez and Bautista fights, seems to be a bit more confident these days.
Of course my talk can only do so much, but I'd bet on it when it rolls around if you're interested.
I hope I am wrong, but I think De Leon will be more dangerous in the rematch... Penalosa is fighting out of his weight class againts De Leon... Againts Arce though, I think Penalosa has an easy time.. Arce don't like south paws... He was getting mauled by rojas till he got the body shot in... Penalosa was schooling Rojas to a decision... Penalosa would be too much for Arce...
I agree with what you say, but a lot of people are in absolute denial about Daniel's progression since the Penalosa fight. He's not the same fighter anymore, and mark my words, he'll show you that in the rematch.
the penalosa fight was only in march... and i didn't think he looked that much better against lopez.
How can you say that when DPDL could not even penetrate Gerry's defensive shell and was robbed in their fight?
I agree with what you say, but a lot of people are in absolute denial about Daniel's progression since the Penalosa fight. He's not the same fighter anymore, and mark my words, he'll show you that in the rematch.
Maybe Arce can pick Penalosa's bones after Ponce De Leon flattens him.
How can you say that when DPDL could not even penetrate Gerry's defensive shell and was robbed in their fight?