Penalosa, Arce In Near-riot At Mandalay

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.