Former flyweight world champion Gerry Penalosa of the Philippines has expressed optimism to dethrone World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico in their 122-pound encounter on March 17 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
“I’m ready, confident and I know I have the style to beat Ponce,” said Penalosa, the reigning WBF super flyweight champion, in Asianjournal.com report.
Penalosa, who is nine years older than 25-year-old Ponce, is currently training in Los Angeles at the famous Wild Card Gym of American trainer Freddie Roach.
For his part, Penalosa’s co-manager Billy Keane said Roach told him that Gerry is expected to annihilate the boastful Ponce de Leon in later rounds.
“Freddie said look for Gerry to knockout Ponce in the later rounds. He told me, technically, Gerry is better than (Manny) Pacquiao and the best technical fighter in the Philippines,” said Keane.
Penalosa, a southpaw fighter, is also expected to use his vast experience against the taller and hard puncher Ponce de Leon who packs an impressive ring record of 30-1 with 28 via stoppages.
Since his failed bid to regain the world title from Masamori Takuyama in December 2002, Penalosa has not lost a single fight in five assignments as he improved his record to 51-5-2 with 34 Kos.
“I’m an impressive fighter. I’ve been fighting for so many years now and my record speaks for itself,” Penalosa said.
Penalosa said in a recent interview with PNA that his upcoming fight would serve as the biggest challenge in a bid to revive his boxing career.
“I want my our countrymen to know that I’m still here and I will do my best to give another honor for my country,” said Penalosa.
Meanwhile, Ponce de Leon’s boxing trainer Mario Yuca Morales predicted that the fight would not last eight rounds in favor of his ward.
“Penalosa looks really, really small. I don’t think his legs can keep up with Ponce’s punching power,” said Morales.
For his part, Ponce de Leon admitted Penalosa is a very good technical fighter but he is 100 percent ready to become the first Mexican to beat the Filipino fighter.
“I am already one hundred percent ready to go. My conditioning is great and I am doing a lot of sparring with southpaws. There’s no doubt I will win,” said Ponce de Leon in a boxingconfidental.com report.
Should he hurdled Penalosa, Ponce de Leon will fight next another Filipino, Rey ‘Boom-boom’ Bautista, who is undefeated in 22 fights with 19 knockouts.
Pacquiao is reportedly set to leave Saturday for the United States to watch not only the Penalosa-Ponce de Leon fight but the WBC super featherweight championship encounter between Antonio Marco Barrera and fellow Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
The winner of the fight will have to defend his crown against Pacquiao provided the Filipino ring sensation survive undefeated Jorge Solis (32-0, 23 Kos) on April 14 in Las Vegas. (PNA)
