World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry "Fearless" Pe?alosa is set to return to the gym today in anticipation of a possible May 31 fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.
"Ugma mobalik nako sa gym," (Tomorrow I'm going back to the gym), Pe?alosa told this writer in a long-distance interview yesterday.
The San Carlos City-raised Penalosa is coming off a successful defense of his WBO title with an eighth-round TKO over Thailand's Ratanachai Sor Vorapin last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Prompted by a possible May 31 outing in Las Vegas, Pe?alosa says he cannot afford to be caught off-guarded in case the fight indeed pushes through.
"There are plans for me to fight on May 31 in Las Vegas. I should be ready," Pe?alosa indicated, referring to the Golden Boy Promotions card at the Mandalay Bay headlined by the Shane Mosley-Zab Judah encounter.
Also on the card is Pe?alosa's possible future foe Abner Mares of Mexico, who is aching for a chance to challenge Penalosa even in the country.
Among those short-listed to face Mares in the May 31 card include African Silence Mabuza and ex-world champs Rosendo Alvarez and Martin Castillo.
Pe?alosa, however, has reiterated his intention to face WBO superbantam champ Daniel Ponce De Leon in a rematch of their highly-disputed first encounter.
"Gusto ko sya makalaban uli. Alam ko panalo ako sa first meeting namin. I want to put closure into this," Pe?alosa told the media moments after beating Vorapin last Sunday.
Top photo: Gerry Pe?alosa (L) looks for an opening against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin during their fight last April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
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