Philippines, 01 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Gerry Peñalosa Not Rushing Prized Ward, Two More Fights to Test Kenneth Llover


PhilBoxing.com



Peñalosa (L) and LLover after Llover's knockout win in Japan.

Former two divisions world champion now boxing promoter Gerry Peñalosa is not rushing top ward Kenneth Llover to a world title fight saying he wants a couple more fights in the next few months to truly test his readiness.

Peñalosa who runs a promotional outfit carrying his name, GerryPens, bared this in a radio interview via Zoom in the Usapang Sports airing every Saturday 3-5 pm at Radyo Pilipinas Sport with Romuel Alarcon as anchor.

Gerry admitted at first that he was "carried away" by Llover's winning first the interim and later the regular OPBF bantamweight crown by consecutive first round knockout victories against rated Japanese fighters in Japan. He said with the help of some sponsor friends, he sent an offer to IBF titlist Ryosuke Nishida to defend against Llover this June.

Nishida's handlers however said the Japanese champion has a mandatory defense coming up and would not be available until later this year.

That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Gerry realised they have to be very certain the youthful 22-year-old Llover is truly ready for a world title crack. Proper preparation is very vital in such fistic undertaking Gerry very well knows being a challenger himself before becoming world champion at super flyweight and later at bantamweight in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Gerry said that Llover received an offer to fight next month in Japan against a Latino opponent but said they have to decline as the planned bout is too soon as Kenneth's last fight was held just two weeks ago.

Peñalosa is lining up Llover for a couple of activity fights after Llover gets back to training and conditioning but apart from expressing preference in taking on Takuma Inoue, a former world champion and brother of Naoya, he said "details of Llover's next two fights will still be finalised by their team".

He said Takuma Inoue will be "a good test" for Llover.

It could be recalled that Llover became interim OPBF bantamweight champion with a first round stoppage over Tulio Dekanarudo last December in Japan.

Last March 24, 2025 Llover completed his conquest of the OPBF championship by decking defending regular titlist Keita Kurihara three times and stopping him also in the very first round of their fight held in Japan.

Before that, Llover defeated China's tough Chen Chen Yang and fellow Filipino former world title challenger Edward Heno.

Llover currently totes an undefeated record of 14 wins, 9 via knockout/stoppage. He is currently rated #12 by the IBF but that would surely change following his exploits in Japan and winning the OPBF bantamweight title.

Gerry said if Llover passes his test fights, he prefers his world title challenge be held in the Philippines so that "his fellow countrymen will see him fight".

But if that is not possible as the "current Japanese world titleholders would not want to leave Japan, we will fight them in their own turf," Gerry said.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Viva Promotions chief Brendan Gibbons slowly stepping out of his famous dad's shadow
    By Homer D. Sayson, , Sun, 01 Jun 2025
  • Stacked Card Unveiled for Manny Pacquiao’s Highly Anticipated Return
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV DEFEATS DARIUS FULGHUM IN WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR THRILLER
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • AFM Benoni Wabe Champ in the IIEE National Midyear Convention Tournament in CDO
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Bektemir Melikuziev Edges Darius Fulghum in Thrilling WBA Title Eliminator
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • A Bridge to Plant versus Charlo is the theme for PBC/Amazon Card on Saturday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • WEIGHIN RESULTS FROM LAS VEGAS: Plant - 167.2. lbs., Resendiz - 167 lbs.; Charlo - 167.4 lbs., LaManna - 166.6 lbs.
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BAM: I WANT TO BE POUND-FOR-POUND NUMBER ONE!
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • QUOTES FROM TODAY’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Reymart Soledad In Action for ABF Welter Strap in Brico Santig's Promotion in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Konuk, Chaiyapong Make Weight, Collide for UBO Youth World 140
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • World Boxing to introduce mandatory Sex testing for all boxers that want to Participate in its competitions
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • 2025 BOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY TO BE STREAMED LIVE
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • AJ Paciones Ready for WBO Oriental Battle in Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BOXER JEAN PASCAL INDUCTED INTO THE BOXING CANADA HALL OF FAME
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 5 - ALI VS. FOREMAN IN RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Raquinel and Zulueta Crowned ABF Champions in Bacolod City Homecoming
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • GMs Quizon, Antonio, Laylo Vying in 4th Edition Eduardo B. Basilonia Invitational Open Rapid Chess Tilt in Roxas City, Capiz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • New York Stays Alive, Foils Indiana, 111-94
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • PLANT VS. RESENDIZ & CHARLO VS. LAMANNA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Álvarez vs. Crawford: "Champions of Champions"
    By Gary Todd, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: MELIKUZIEV - 166.8 LBS., FULGHUM - 167.6 LBS.
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Former Champion Jaime Munguía Notified of Possible Failed Drug Test
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • WEIGHTS AND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FOR MANUEL GALLEGOS VS. KHALIL COE REMATCH IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Championship Summer: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas to Battle Mexico’s Jorge Garcia for WBO Jr. Middleweight Crown July 26 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 30 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.