World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman sees a resurgence in Gerry Peñalosa's career, saying with proper training and a deep desire to win, the Filipino fighter can be a world champion again.
"Peñalosa is a great champion. If he plays his cards right, he can be a world champion again," said Sulaiman, who witnessed the Luisito Espinosa-Guty Espadas, Jr. title fight in Merida, Mexico over the weekend where the Filipino lost his bid to become the first Asian fighter to win world titles in three decades.
Peñalosa will clash with Thailand's Pone Saengmorakot in a WBC international super flyweight title bout next month here in the PSA Fiesta Fistiana, a fight that is expected to launch the Filipino's comeback bid for a shot at a world crown.
Sulaiman said he welcomed the coming Peñalosa-Saengmorakot clash, which many hope will be the first step towards Peñalosa's goal of becoming a world champion again.
The May 27 encounter at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque City will be Peñalosa's first bout since his attempt to regain the World Boxing Council international super flyweight title ended in another setback to Korea's In-joo Cho in Seoul last January.
Organizers of the Peñalosa-Saengmorakot bout said the 4,000-seater Casino Filipino Amphitheater is now being renovated and refurbished to the tune of P4 million to ensure the successful staging of the fight.
President Joseph Estrada, businessman and sports patron Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, and Pagcor chair Alice LL Reyes have been invited to grace the event being presented by San Miguel Beer and Casino Filipino.
There are also plans for Peñalosa to campaign in two weight divisions this year to further enhance his chances of earning another crack at a world crown, like what the late Gabriel "Flash" Elorde did when he reigned as world junior lightweight champion (130 lbs) at the same time that he fought as a lightweight (135 lbs) in the Orient Boxing Federation in the 60s.
Lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud said last week that they are working out details for Peñalosa to fight in both the super flyweight (115 pounds) and bantamweight (118 pounds) classes.
Peñalosa has never stopped training since his defeat to Cho, according to his manager, and has even backed up his preparation with a sound nutrition program aimed at improving his strength and reflexes.