After scoring a masterful TKO over challenger Mauricio Pastrana in the under-card of the Morales-Barrera III last month, IBF Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez looks forward to a longer reign.
Having unseated a ferocious fighter in Tim Austin and successfully defending his crown a number of times by stoppages, Marquez is arguably the top man in the 118 division. Who could give Rafael a good test for his boxing prowess?
Newly crowned World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Super-Flyweight Champion Gerry Pe?alosa said he could. Pe?alosa says Marquez’s aggressive style is suited to his. Together, they would treat fight fans with quality boxing from start to finish.
Marquez might say he has no reason to fight Pe?alosa. The latter is not presently listed as an IBF 118 contender.
Let’s consider one good reason. Pe?alosa, at 32, proved in his sensational comeback that he still has the skill and power to hold his own and beat anybody in the super-flyweight and bantamweight divisions. If Marquez really wants a good challenge for his next title defense, he should consider fighting Pe?alosa. Who, in his record, has a 5th round KO victory over current WBO Bantamweight Champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.
Fight fans would be delighted to see a Rafael Marquez-Gerry Pe?alosa on the under-card of Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez II in February next year. Being in the US at the time, Pe?alosa worked in Pacquiao’s corner when the latter fought and demolished Jorge ELiezer Julio on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis VsMike Tyson title fight. This time, Filipino fight fans would love to see Pe?alosa and Pacquiao fight in the same card against the tough Marquez brothers.
As a world champion once again, Pe?alosa, with the help of the WBF, is now in a position to challenge the other champions in the 115 and 118 divisions. He has set his eyes in Rafael Marquez’s crown.
If there is one good reason the managers and promoters concerned, and most especially Rafael Marquez himself, would give Pe?alosa a crack at Rafael’s title, it is this – Gerry Pe?alosa (48-5-2 with 32 KO’s) could beat Rafael Marquez (33-3 with 30 KO’s).
