MANILA, Philippines ? Similar to other boxing experts like him, Freddie Roach also thinks retirement beckons on veteran Gerry Pe?alosa.
But at the same time, he believes that matched up against a perfect opponent, the two-time Filipino world champion still has got what it takes to win another title.
?I think with the right fight, Gerry can still win a world title,” he said less than 24 hours after arriving from Puerto Rico where he manned Pe?alosa?s corner in his failed bid to unseat reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez.
Fast with both hands and oozing with power, the 25-year old Puerto Rican champion outclassed his ageless challenger for the whole nine rounds of their fight, before Roach stopped the carnage by not allowing Pe?alosa to answer the bell for round 10.
While Lopez failed to knock out the Filipino, two people close to Pe?alosa ? Manny Pacquiao and former manager Rex ?Wakee” Salud ? believe that it is now time for him to hang up his gloves.
Roach is also leaning that way, but wouldn?t be surprised if Pe?alosa will still fight for one last time.
He said currently there is an offer for the Filipino to fight former World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight King Eric Morel. The Puerto Rican is set to slug it out with Fernando Montiel on June 27 in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the WBO 118-pound title vacated by Pe?alosa.
Either a showdown with Morel and Montiel would be good for Pe?alosa, according to Roach.
?But of course, I will have to take a better look at him (Pe?alosa) first on training camp,” said the trainer. ? GMANews.TV
