THOUGH promoters are trumpeting an early April fight date for Gerry Penalosa, the current world bantamweight champion is keeping his options open in other developments that may arise in the coming weeks. In an exclusive interview with ?Sports Chat?, the daily morning show of Sports Radio 918 kHz, Penalosa said there is still a slim chance he will have Mexican tormentor Daniel Ponce De Leon as his next opponent.
Penalosa said he still has to receive his fight contract of a supposed mandatory title defense of his WBO crown against Thai pretender Ratanachai Sor Vorapin. Golden Boy Promotions in association with ABS-CBN is reportedly staging the fight on April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Penalosa was supposed to meet Vorapin on March 2 at the Araneta Coliseum and actually flew to the United States last month to train at the Wild Card gym. The Negros-born fighter however went back to the country last week after learning about the scrapping of the March event.
The 35-year-old Penalosa said there is still an available slot beneath the Aril 19 battle between Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Penalosa said Billy Keane, his American co-manager along with Freddie Roach, told him a rematch with Ponce De Leon is an option for GBP should the Vorapin card again fall through anew.
Penalosa won the world bantamweight crown by dethroning Mexican Jhonny Gonzalez via a 7th round knockout August of last year at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. He has a record of 52-6-2 with 35 knockouts.
Penalosa defeated Vorapin in their initial encounter on November 25, 2000 at the Casino Filipino amphitheater in Paranque City. Their bout was a WBC International super flyweight title fight.
The ageless Penalosa lost a 12-round decision to Ponce De Leon March of last at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
