EVEN if he is in the twilight of his boxing career, two-division world champion Gerry ?Fearless? Pe?alosa still wants the best fights against the elite boxers available.
After inking a deal for a clash against World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez on April 25 in Puerto Rico, Pe?alosa said he would love to have a crack at three-belted world super flyweight titlist Vic ?The Raging Bull? Darchinyan after.
Following Darchinyan?s victory against former world champion Jorge Arce last Sunday, the Armenian champion?s promoter, Gary Shaw, said one of their options for his next fight is against Pe?alosa.
?That?s nice because they are willing to come to the Philippines to fight me. That sounds very good. I like to fight even in America and Puerto Rico, how much more here in the Philippines,? Pe?alosa told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.
Although Pe?alosa wants to fight Darchinyan, he isn?t thinking yet of a fight with the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight king because he is still focusing on his his title bout with Lopez.
?I?d really like that fight. Darchinyan is a very good fighter and a world champion. But I will first focus on Lopez because it?s a harder fight. If I win against Lopez, how much more against an easier fighter?? said the 36-year-old veteran boxer.
Pe?alosa feels that his probability of coming out victorious against Lopez is high because of the long and rigid training he has undergone and the knowledge that he acquired in the past 61 battles of his career.
Huge chance
?I?ll be training hard for this fight. There will be a huge chance that I would succeed in this fight. My advantage is my experience,? said the WBO bantamweight king who turned pro in 1989. ?I will try my best to evade his powerful punches and I?ll try my best to land my shots.?
Pe?alosa is currently training in Baguio with IBF and International Boxing Organization flyweight champion Nonito ?Filipino Flash? Donaire Jr. and has been sparring with Marvin Tampus and the undefeated upstart Rodolfo Sumabong.
?My training is going well. I?ve been training for so long. I?m inspired training with him because he (Donaire Jr.) is such a hard worker in practice and I really enjoy his company,? he said.
Before his much-awaited clash with the 25-year-old Puerto Rican knockout specialist, Pe?alosa will have a tune-up fight against Mexican warrior German Meraz on Feb. 21 at the Cebu Coliseum, his first fight here in almost five years.
Pe?alosa?s last fight in Cebu was in 2004, when he fought Thai youngster Samingkao Chutipol. He knocked the Thai out in the second round of his comeback fight at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
