It?s going to be youth versus experience when the ageless Filipino warrior Gerry Pe?alosa vies for what could be his last stab at fame and fortune when he challenges Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight crown on April 24 in Lopez?s territory of Puerto Rico.
“I know this is going to be very tough but I will be prepared for him,” said Pe?alosa, who turned professional in 1989 and now holds a 53-6-2 win-loss-draw record with 36 knockouts (434 total rounds and 59.02 percent KO rate).
The 25-year-old Lopez, who is being groomed to become Puerto Rico?s next big star, parades an unblemished 24-0 slate with 22 knockouts (79 total rounds and 91.67 percent KO rate). Of the 22 abbreviated wins, 11 ended in the first round, including the last three fights.
Although contracts have yet to be signed by the two parties, Pe?alosa said everything will be finalized this coming week and as proof that he is looking forward to the Lopez bout, the 36-year-old counter-puncher is deep in training in Baguio City, having opened up camp there since early January.
As a tuneup for the Lopez battle, Pe?alosa will take on Mexican German Meraz on Feb. 21 in Cebu and there?ll be no break in his preparation for Lopez as Pe?alosa is expected to show up in the gym immediately after he faces Meraz.
Lopez is promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank, while Pe?alosa is managed by Los Angeles-based Billy Keane, a close friend of trainer Freddie Roach, and is under the promotional banner of Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya.
Pe?alosa hasn?t seen action since April 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum where he disposed of Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand in only his first defense of the WBO bantam title.
He had won the WBO 118-lb throne in August 2007 with a one-punch knockout of Mexican Johnny Gonzalez at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Pe?alosa is one of four reigning Filipino world champions ? lightweight Manny Pacquiao (World Boxing Council), flyweight Nonito Donaire (International Boxing Federation) and minimumweight Donnie Nietes (WBO) ? at the moment.
