Peñalosa handang kalabanin si Ponce De Leon

Handa si Filipino world bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa na muling umakyat sa super bantamweight para lamang maplantsa ang kanilang rematch ni Mexican Daniel Ponce De Leon.

Kasabay nito, hindi naman babakantehin ng 35 anyos na si Peñalosa ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown, ayon kay American promoter Billy King.

“Gerry will move up to super bantamweight to challenge Ponce De Leon but he will not vacate his WBO bantamweight title,” wika ni King.

Matatandaang isang kontrobersyal na unanimous decision ang itinakas ng 27-anyos na si Ponce De Leon laban kay Peñalosa noong Marso 17 sa Las Vegas para mapanatili ang suot na WBO super bantamweight belt.

Nag-alok na rin ang Golden Boy Promotions ni Oscar Dela Hoya ng ‘generous amount’ para lamang mapapayag si Ponce De Leon sa isang rematch kay Peñalosa sa 2008.

Matapos maidepensa ang kanyang WBO super bantamweight crown kay Eduardo Escobido via unanimous decision, ipinaramdam ni Ponce De Leon ang pakikipagtagpo kay Peñalosa.

“Yes  definitely, Golden Boy is talking to Peñalosa right now.  They offered for me to go to The Philippines to fight there, but if it lands here in USA, I welcome that too,” ani Ponce De Leon.

Bago si Escobido, isang first round TKO muna ang kinuha ni Ponce De Leon kay Filipino challenger Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista noong Agosto 11 sa Sacramento.

“We know each other, this will be a rematch and I will prepare hard, and work on my defense,” wika ni Ponce De Leon. “I will take away some of those right hands that Peñalosa throws. I will prepare to go 12 rounds with Peñalosa, I know he is a very tough fighter.” (Russell Cadayona)