Two-division world champion Gerry Pe?alosa believes bantamweight Marlon Tapales has more than just a puncher?s chance of wresting the World Boxing Organization (WBO) crown on July 27 in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
?I really feel that he is going to win the title,? said Pe?alosa yesterday when asked about the fellow southpaw?s Tapales? shot at WBO 118-lb king Pungluang Sor Singyu.
?He is hungry and he is a terrific fighter,? said Pe?alosa, who held world titles at super-fly and super-bantam.
One thing that concerns Pe?alosa, who retired seven years ago, is Tapales? conditioning ?because this fight was supposed to take place last June and the (Thai) promoters postponed it.?
?I just hope that he didn?t get burned out,? added Pe?alosa, who retired six years ago after fighting 65 times in a 21-year career as a professional.
Tapales and his chief handler, noted kingmaker Wakee Salud, are heading to Bangkok on July 23. Also joining them are trainers Fernando Ocon and Brix Flores.
Pe?alosa, now 43, has also been invited to join to provide morale boost and good luck as he had blossomed under Salud during his championship days.
Fighting on hostile ground is nothing new to the 24-year-old Tapales, having fought and won all three bouts in Japan, and once in Mexico.
