SMALLER in physique and appearing on the twilight of his career, Filipino boxer Gerry Pe?alosa is the clear underdog when he steps into the ring to challenge Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon for the latter’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Armed with power in both hands and younger in age, De Leon has all the ingredients to ward off the challenge of Pe?alosa.
The Mexican camp, however, was quick to admit that the Filipino is a dangerous fighter, which makes this bout a tough one.
“I don’t think this is a coming out party. We just feel Daniel is too big and too strong (for Pe?alosa),” Joe Hernandez, De Leon’s manager, said at a press conference days before the fight.
De Leon carries an imposing record of 30-1 with 28 knockout victories to his name, while Pe?alosa is 51-5-2 with 34 KOs, a record, which is not something to sneeze at.
The 34-year-old Pe?alosa, a former world champion, thanked Oscar dela Hoya, his promoter at the Golden Boy Promotions, for giving him another opportunity to snatch boxing’s Holy Grail.
The Filipino challenger may be the underdog in this fight but he will certainly have a strong moral support as Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to be at ringside to cheer for him come fight night.
Also fighting Saturday is Diosdado “Prince” Gabi of Davao City, another promising fighter but who has yet to win a world title.
The Pe?alosa-De Leon showdown is the main undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Juan Manuel Marquez super featherweight championship clash.
