Title shot for Farenas?

Hard-hitting southpaw Michael Farenas suffered a deep cut over his right eyebrow on an accidental headbutt and settled for a second round technical draw with Mexican trialhorse Arturo Gomez in the “Latin Fury” undercard at Nueva Vallarta, Mexico, last Saturday night.

Despite the inconclusive ending, Farenas’ manager Gerry Peñalosa said it won’t derail plans for the Sorsogon brawler to take on undefeated WBO superfeatherweight champion Roman (Rocky) Martinez in Puerto Rico, tentatively on Sept. 12.

Peñalosa, who worked Farenas’ corner, said Gomez was groggy and ready to go when their heads clashed. Farenas, 25, dominated the first round and seemed on the way to score an easy knockout until Gomez got lucky.     

The fight was on the same card that saw WBA lightflyweight titleholder Giovanni Segura retain his crown via a sixth round stoppage of perennial Filipino challenger Juanito Rubillar.

It was Peñalosa who contacted Rubillar to replace Sonny Boy Jaro as Segura’s challenger on two days notice. Rubillar was in Los Angeles cooling his heels when Peñalosa found out Jaro wouldn’t be able to show up because he had no transient US visa. Jaro planned to land in Los Angeles before taking a connecting flight to Mexico because flying from Manila to South of the Border would’ve entailed a long, circuitous route.

Segura’s fight would’ve been scratched off the pay-per-view program if Peñalosa didn’t come to the rescue. Luckily, Rubillar was available.

Farenas is unbeaten in his last 19 outings and his only losses were to countrymen Aaron Melgarejo and Jun Paderna, both on points. He has scored 22 knockouts in 25 wins – a frighteningly high rate – to go with two losses and three draws since turning pro in 2004. But he’ll have his hands full against Martinez whose record is 22-0-1, with 13 KOs.

Martinez, 26, won the WBO 130-pound title on a fourth round knockout over Nicky Cook in England last March. The draw in his record came in a six-rounder with Jose Cruz in 2003.

Peñalosa said he is confident that Farenas’ power will make the difference. If Martinez engages Farenas – as he is likely to because of his style, the Filipino should be able to locate an easy target. The fighter who lands a solid shot first will prevail – so it’ll be a quick draw affair.

Farenas isn’t a stranger to foreign assignments. He’s won once in Japan (a decision over Takuro Matsubara), once in Mexico (outpointing Fermin de los Santos) and thrice in the US (knocking out Arturo Valenzuela, Baudel Cardenas and Walter Estrada). His other Mexico outing was the draw with Gomez last weekend.

Facing Martinez in his home country, Puerto Rico, shouldn’t be a problem for Farenas. He’ll do whatever it takes to snatch the crown, wherever.

Martinez, who is two inches taller, has never been threatened in a fight. In 2003, he was held to a six-round draw by Jose Cruz but that appeared to be more an aberration than a real close contest. Farenas looms as his most dangerous opponent so far. And for Farenas, Martinez is his acid test.

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International matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, who was in town over the weekend to announce “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona’s bid to wrest the WBO superflyweight title from Puerto Rico’s Jose (Carita) Lopez in Ontario on Sept. 4, said he doesn’t expect Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to ever get in the same ring as Manny Pacquiao.

“Mayweather’s a big mouth,” he said. “I think a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would be a huge pay-per-view hit. But it may never happen because of Mayweather’s ego. Now, if he’s humble like Manny or (Sugar Shane) Mosley, maybe a fight could be worked out.”

Lewkowicz said Mayweather’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez is a battle between one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers and a hardened warrior. “I think Mayweather will win the decision or stop Marquez on cuts,” he said.

Lewkowicz said he expects Sonsona and another of his “babies,” A. J. Banal, to become world champions. Banal is now training in Los Angeles and will fight in the undercard of IBF lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria’s defense against Mexico’s Jesus Iribe at the new Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu on Aug. 29.