TWO-DIVISION world champion Gerry Pe?alosa wants to etch his name into the annals of boxing as the first Asian to win three division crowns.
The 35-year-old Pe?alosa said money is immaterial and that all he is thinking of at the moment is to make history.
“Hindi na ako bumabata. Baka isang laban na lang ako kaya ang gusto ko memorable fight para hindi ako makalimutan ng mga kababayan natin,” said Pe?alosa.
The priority fight Pe?alosa is thinking about is a rematch with Mexican tormentor Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico, the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight ruler.
Ponce de Leon inflicted Pe?alosa his last loss as the Mexican escaped with a controversial 12-round decision on March in Las Vegas.
Two weeks ago at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Ponce de Leon scored a brutal first-round technical-knockout win over Filipino prospect Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista in their main event of the just concluded six-bout World Cup of Boxing won by the Filipinos, 5-1.
In that same duel, Pe?alosa snatched the WBO bantamweight crown by stopping Mexican young star Jhonny Gonzalez with a vicious single left hook to the body in the seventh canto of their 12-round encounter.
“Gusto ko si Ponce de Leon. I want his belt and gusto ko iganti si “Boom Boom,” Pe?alosa said.
Pe?alosa also cited another major reason why he is aching to get back at Ponce de Leon.
“Maraming nagsasabi ako dapat nanalo sa unang laban namin. Pero kinalimutan ko na ’yun. Mas maganda kung maglaban uli kami para malaman namin kung sino talaga ang panalo,” Pe?alosa added.
Pe?alosa disclosed as well that his American representative Billy Keane has offered him to defend his WBO belt against Mexican superstar Jorge “Travieso” Arce in December.
But Pe?alosa has other things in mind as he is bent in being the first Asian three-division world champion.
Pe?alosa added that if Ponce de Leon won’t be available, he would challenge reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) super-bantamweight champion Israel Vasquez of Mexico.
“Ang gusto kong makalaban ay ’yung may belt sa 122. Kung ayaw ni Ponce de Leon si Vasquez ang gusto ko,” added Pe?alosa.
The 29-year-old Vasquez (42-4, 31 KOs) is coming off a classic sixth-round technical-knockout win over compatriot Rafael Marquez in a rematch on August 4 at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao started his sparring session yesterday at the Wakee Salud Gym in Cebu. Pacquiao will have Mexican Steven Luevano as his sparring partner.
Two other Mexicans are scheduled to arrive today to join Luevano in whipping Pacquiao into fighting form.
Pacquiao will meet Mexican rival Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
On Sunday, Pacquiao played basketball with Cebu sportswriters at the City Sports Gym. Pacquiao’s Team Pacman beat Cebu Sports Media Association (CSMA), 75-72. Pacquiao led the way for his team, scoring a team-high 27 points as he baffled several multiple team defenses thrown at him especially in the dying minutes of the game.
