Top trainer Freddie Roach disclosed yesterday that he has met with key Filipino fighters who are taking part in the Boxing World Cup (Mexico versus Philippines showdown) that Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is staging on August 11 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. “Yeah, they were here earlier,” Roach told The Manila Bulletin/Fightnews on Tuesday morning (Monday evening in the US). Leading them is unbeaten super-bantamweight Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista, who faces Daniel Ponce De Leon for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-lb crown in the co-man event. In the other featured title fight, Gerry Penalosa meets Johnny Gonzalez for the WBO bantam throne. “They’re all looking good,” said Roach of the Filipinos who showed up at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Bautista, super-fly AJ Banal and fly Bert Batawang, left Sunday night for Los Angeles and were accompanied by ace strategist and two-time world title challenger Edito ‘Ala’ Villamor. Already training at the Wild Card is Czar Amonsot, who challenges Australian Michael Katisidis for the WBO lightweight title on July 21 in Las Vegas. “He sparred with David Rodela, the same guy who works with Manny (Pacquiao),” added Roach. Penalosa will show up shortly at the famed sweat shop on Vine Street as he is set to depart for the US on Tuesday night via Philippine Airlines.
Meanwhile, in an interview over DZSR also on Tuesday, Penalosa, the 34-year-old southpaw from San Carlos City, Negros, vowed to knock the WBO crown off Gonzalez’s head. “I will go after him wherever he goes,” said Penalosa, who has been working out the past four weeks. “I can truly say that I am 60 percent in shape now but I expect a lot of tough sparring sessions when I report for training at the Wild Card.”
