Gerry Pe?alosa is calling on the big names as he faces the twilight of his long, checkered career.
?After this fight, I want Daniel Ponce de Leon and Rafael Marquez,? said Pe?alosa who defends his WBO bantamweight crown against Thailand?s Ranatachai Sor Vorapin, an old foe, on Sunday the Big Dome.
It will be Pe?alosa?s first defense of the world title he won over the 26-year-old Johnny Gonzalez of Mexico via a stunning seventh-round knockout last August in Sacramento, California.
Pe?alosa, who?s turning 36 on Aug. 7, lost a unanimous decision to De Leon at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in March last year, and has vowed to avenge that setback, only his sixth in 60 fights since 1989.
Then he wants Marquez, the younger brother of Juan Manuel Marquez.
?After that I can retire. Or my wife (Goody) will kill me,? he said during yesterday?s press conference at the Gateway Mall where he came face to face with Sor Vorapin, whom he knocked out in 2000.
Also in Sunday?s card, dubbed ?The Invasion? are Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista against Mexico?s Genaro Camargo, AJ Banal against Uruguay?s Caril Herrera, Ciso Morales against South Korea?s Yoo Shin Kim, Michael Domingo against Thailand?s Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana, Bert Batawang against Indonesia?s Heri Amol, John Mark Apolinario against Jessie Albaracin and Eric Macas against Rene Bucag.
Pe?alosa said he wants to end his career by fighting the best in the bantamweight division.
?I want the fans to remember Gerry Pe?alosa that way. I want them to see the best Gerry Pe?alosa in my next fights. Then I can retire and spend time with my family,? he said.
?Boxing has always been my first wife, and my wife (Goody) the second wife. When you retire, I will be with them,? added the southpaw from San Carlos City.
Very briefly, through an interpreter, Sor Vorapin said he intends to bring the WBO belt home with him.
But Pe?alosa said it wouldn?t happen.
?I know he?s hungry and he wants to become champion. But I can?t lose in front of my countrymen. I know how it feels losing. I don?t want that to happen again,? he said.
