| |
|
ROACH COMING IN FOR PENALOSA TITLE DEFENSE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 04 Apr 2008

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is flying in for one day to be in the corner of WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa when he makes the first defense of his title against tough former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday morning.
Roach who failed to work the corner of Penalosa when he fought WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon because he was in Puerto Rico training Oscar De La Hoya at that time in preparation for De La oya?s blockbuster showdown with Floyd Mayweather, felt a little guilty when Penalosa told him later ?coach, if you were there would have won the fight.?
This time, even though Roach is busy training Bernard Hopkins he decided to take a quick trip to Manila merely to be in Penalosa?s corner.
Penalosa?s manager Billy Keane told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today ?Freddie is going to come over for one day because he really loves Gerry and wants to be here for him.?
Roach who trains Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has said in the past that he believes Penalosa is technically the best Filipino boxer. Keane said both he and Roach consider Penalosa ?a masterful boxer and Freddie and Gerry really have a special relationship.?
Looking ahead to Sunday?s title defense Keane said he is expecting ?a typical Penalosa fight. Very intelligent boxing and when his opponent makes a mistake Gerry will exploit the mistake and be very devastating with his power ?as he demonstrated in his one-punch, sixth round knockout of champion Jhonny Gonzales to win the title last August 11 in Sacramento, California.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj , Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18 , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories , Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53 , Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|