Freddie Roach was supposed to fly in from Los Angeles today but had to postpone his arrival for tomorrow morning because he realized too late his passport had expired.
Roach was scheduled for an appearance late yesterday at the US Federal Building where he was told to claim his new passport. He hopes to catch the Philippine Airlines flight that lands here at dawn tomorrow, about five hours before Gerry Pe?alosa stakes his WBO bantamweight crown against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand at the Araneta Coliseum.
?Coach Freddie will definitely be in my corner,? Pe?alosa said yesterday, adding that his brother Jonathan and Buboy Fernandez will also join the crew. ?He was booked to board the plane when he realized his passport had expired. But he promised to arrive in time for my fight.?
Pe?alosa?s manager Billy Keane, who planed in from Los Angeles last Tuesday, said he expects a slam-bang, all-action fight because Vorapin comes straight up and won?t back down from a slugfest.
?Vorapin knows only one style of fighting,? said Keane who is Roach?s best friend. ?He just brawls and Gerry likes that style. Vorapin has no Plan B. He?s going out for a knockout and Gerry will be in there waiting to explode. It?ll be competitive for four or five rounds then I see Gerry stopping him.?
But Keane said Vorapin can?t be taken lightly.
?He?s a dangerous opponent because he?s got power and he?s very experienced,? continued Keane whose stable of six fighters includes IBF superflyweight champion Dimitri Kirilov of Russia and Filipino contender Diosdado Gabi. ?I know Gerry plans to fight (Daniel) Ponce de Leon next and maybe later, (Rafael) Marquez but he?s got to get past Vorapin first. We?re not looking beyond Vorapin at the moment.?
Keane said at 35, Pe?alosa is in excellent physical condition and could fight a few more years.
?Gerry?s in tremendous shape and in his career, he hasn?t taken a lot of shots,? said Keane. ?I like the prospects for his longevity. But Gerry told me he wants just a few more bouts. My job is to get him as much money and as many big fights as he wants and as they?re available. So after Vorapin, assuming Ponce de Leon retains his (WBO superbantamweight) title against (Juan Manuel) Lopez (in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 6), we?ll go for a rematch.?
Ponce de Leon outpointed Pe?alosa in a WBO title defense in Las Vegas last year. Although the scorecards weren?t close, Pe?alosa said he was robbed and is itching for a chance to avenge the defeat. Pe?alosa bounced back from the loss by halting Jhonny Gonzalez with a single body shot to wrest the WBO 118-pound crown in Sacramento last August.
Pe?alosa said Manny Pacquiao will be a ?guest? in his corner during the fight.
?He asked for a front row seat,? said Pe?alosa. ?At first, he wanted to be with coach Freddie in my corner. But I think he?ll still go to me after each round. He really inspires me. If I can fight like Manny, I can beat anyone.?
Pe?alosa?s defense headlines a blockbuster card that reels off at 9 tomorrow morning. Dubbed ?Invasion,? the show features six foreigners from five countries against Filipinos. Aside from Vorapin, the other ?invaders? are Mexico?s Genaro Camargo against Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, Uruguay?s unbeaten Caril Herrera against A. J. Banal, Thailand?s Thepnimit Chittapanna against Michael Domingo, Indonesia?s Henri Amol against Bert Batawang and Korea?s Yoo Shim Kim against Ciso Morales.
