Los Angeles ? Will youth prevail over experience?
That will be known Saturday night (late Sunday morning in Manila) when 20-year pro Gerry Pe?alosa of the Philippines attempts to dethrone the youthful Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight crown in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
During Friday?s official weigh-in, Penalosa, 36, came in at 121.5 lbs, while Lopez, 25, checked in at 121.8. The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez.
Top trainer Freddie Roach is now in Puerto Rico to lend a hand in the corner of Pe?alosa and the celebrated strategist of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao insists ?this is going to be a tough fight? for the Filipino.
?If we get past four rounds, our chances (of winning) will improve,? said Roach, noting that Penalosa?s experience is his only advantage over Lopez, who is ?big and strong.?
Roach said he feels good that Pe?alosa is supremely confident of shocking the boxing world.
?It was him who kept on telling people ?get me Lopez, get me Lopez?,? Roach said.
Lopez has an unblemished 24-0 win-loss slate with 22 knockouts, including 10 in the first round.
Pe?alosa, who held the World Boxing Council super-flyweight title in the late-90s and recently relinquished the WBO bantam throne, parades a 54-6 mark with 36 stoppages.
