LIKE Manny Pacquiao, veteran Filipino fighter Gerry Pe?alosa faces a daunting task as he is set to fight undefeated Puerto Rican warrior Juan Manuel Lopez for the World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title on April 25 in Puerto Rico.
And in Pe?alosa?s next fight, Pacquiao, his close friend, thinks the 36-year-old Cebuano champion will have the edge over Lopez because of his vast experience.
?For Pareng Gerry, I firmly believe that his courage and skill as a veteran boxer will be the key to his victory on April 25,? Pacquiao wrote in his column at Philboxing.com.
Pacquiao has seen some of Lopez?s fights and believes Lopez is a force to reckon with because aside from his power, he also has speed.
?But Pe?alosa is different from the rest of the boxers that I have been closely watching in my career. Aside from his excellent defense, Gerry is an intelligent boxer,? said Pacquiao.
However, Pacquiao thinks that it is hard to make a prediction on this fight but added Pe?alosa is very determined to win this battle.
?I think that this will be a great fight and I hope that the hand of the Filipino will be raised by the referee after the fight,? said Pacquiao.
Pe?alosa is training in Freddie Roach?s famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles along with Pacquiao and Filipino world title contender Bernabe Concepcion.
Concepcion will also be gunning for a world title against WBO featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano on May 2 in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Hatton battle.
