PE?ALOSA VS MATUMLA MOVED TO OCT. 29

For the second time, former World Boxing Council

superfly king Gerry Penalosa's return to the ring

after a year of absence has been moved to a new date

on October 29.

Penalosa, who recently visited Cebu to serve as

sparmate to Japanese Daisuke Naito at the ALA Gym, has

confirmed that he is fighting against Tanzanian Mbwana

Matumla in a soon-to-be-announced venue in Manila.

He recently sparred against Japanese flyweight champ

Naito, who is set to do battle against WBC flyweight

boss Pongsaklek Wongjongkam next month.

"Yes, the fight with Matumla has a new date on October

29," said Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde, who is arranging the

fight, when interviewed by this writer yesterday.

Matumla (14-1, 9 KO's, a southpaw like Penalosa, is

the current holder of the WBA Pan-African superfly

title.

It was not known whether Penalosa's American promoter

Murad Muhammad would be bankrolling the fight, but

Penalosa said the event will have the backing of Jemah

Films' Mark Roces.

Muhammad, who figured in a bitter falling out with

superstar Manny Pacquiao recently, had failed to book

a fight for Penalosa in the United States on more than

one occassion this year, prompting the Filipino

ex-champ to fly back to the Philippines.

Penalosa had been training religiously under the

watchful eye of Trainer of the Year awardee Buddy

McGirt in Orlando, Florida, but was forced to return

to the country after Muhammad failed to book a fight

in the US.

Former two-division world champ Dodie Boy Penalosa,

who trains his younger brother in the Philippines, had

also informed that his brother had been furiously

sparring with Japanese flyweight Daisuke Naito as the

latter prepares for his October 10 challenge on WBC

flyweight boss Pongsaklek Wongjongkam in Tokyo, Japan.

END