MANILA—Gerry Pe?alosa showed the country he still has it. And yes, he is out there to show more.
The thirty three-year old pug from San Carlos City is determined to recapture his lost crown in November after winning against Mexico’s Tomas Rojas last July 2 in an under card match of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios face-off billed “Mano A Mano: Philippines vs. Mexico” at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines.
Pe?alosa pounded Rojas round after round with his powerful left hook that did not seem to show any signs of age.
At the beginning, Pe?alosa’s left eyebrow opened because of an accidental headbutt by Rojas.
Before the bell rang in the fourth round, Pe?alosa connected with a left hook that sent the Mexican’s mouthpiece flying—it was the first. At the ninth round, Pe?alosa’s powerful left hook again forced the mouthpiece out.
Rojas, 26, with a longer reach of 70 inches and taller at 5’8 ?” (compared to Pe?alosa’s 65-inch reach and 5’5” height) showed a short glare of power at the seventh round that shook Pe?alosa. . With a bloody face, Pe?alosa still managed to defeat Rojas after 10 rounds via unanimous decision.
After this match, Pe?alosa is all set to slug it out against the winner of the Martin Castillo-Nobuo Nashiro bout on July 22 in Osaka, Japan. He will see action on November 18 for the WBA Super Flyweight championship.
“I’m ready [to regain my title],” said Pe?alosa in Pilipino during the post-fight press conference.
Before his scheduled title clash, Pe?alosa will turn 34 on August 7. (ALFRED FOZ)
