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PENALOSA, MERAZ PRESSCON UPDATE By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Wed, 18 Feb 2009 CEBU CITY--WBO bantam king Gerry Penalosa and Mexican German Meraz (24-7-2, 11 KO's) have both attended the on-going "Battle of the Best Bantamweights" press conference held at the Cebu Grand Hotel here. Also gracing the affairs are event hosts and co-promoters Vice Governor Manny Pinol and Sammy Gello-ani, as well as WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo. The very talented IBF flyweight champ Nonito Donaire Jr also came to the press conference. Mexican boxer Jose Cota, who is fighting Rolando Magbanua for the WBO interim bantam crown, is set to arrive tomorrow. "Best of luck to the fighters. This is a great opportunity for the boxers seeing action on Saturday," said promoter Sammy Gello-ani in his opening statement. "It was a long trip for Team Meraz--from Mexico to Paris to Doha and then to Manila and Cebu. I thank them for coming over. I also thank Leon Panoncillo of the WBO, as well as my co-promoter, in fact the main promoter, Sammy Gello," said North Cotabato vice-governor Manny Pinol. "How do you produce a world champion? First you have to go to the wilderness. You try to find the best stone. Mold them and fine tune, before you bring them to such companies as Debeers," said Pinol in his speech. "This was how we started our boxing stable," he added, referring to the Braveheart Boxing Gym fighters seeing action in the undercard of this Saturday's fight. "Most of the boys seeing action on Feb. 21 is a product of this program. And this is for the long-term. We have more young boys ready to take cudgel," said Pinol, informing that he had hired Cuban coach Honorato Espinosa to hone the skills of the fighters. "It's an honor to be in the Philippines. I'd like to thank Sammy and Vice Gov Pinol for having the WBO fights here. And also i would like to congratulate Gerry Penalosa for stepping up the place to take on Juan Manuel Lopez in April," says WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo. "I wish the fighters seeing action in the WBO bouts the best of luck. The best man wins," Panoncillo said in his closing. Penalosa also spoke about what could be his last fight in the Philippines before he vies for the biggest title in his career against Lopez. "I would also thank my team for killing me in the gym," said Penalosa, adding that "I want to show my skills on Saturday, in such a way that people would say 'wow' after my fight." Meraz, through interpreter Michael Lopez, said that he came to Cebu to fight, and he has prepared himself well for this fight. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.  |
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