Filipino boxing icon Gerry Pe?alosa returned to the country Thursday morning after his latest victory against top rated Mauricio Martinez in El Paso, Texas last Sunday.
Pe?alosa arrived from Los Angeles, California around 5:20 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines flight PR-103.
The veteran boxer refused to reveal how much he earned from his fight against Martinez.
He said he will immediately start training for his next fight, possibly against WBO super bantamweight belt holder Daniel Ponce de Leon.
Pe?alosa downed Martinez on the ninth round in their fight at the Don Haskins Center last Sunday.
Despite fighting with a swollen left hand as a result of a straight punch that knocked down Martinez at the end of the first round, Pe?alosa was still able to launch more powerful punches against the Panamian boxer.
Pe?alosa cut his opponent’s right eye in the third, scoring effectively with right hooks and sparingly dishing out his left straights. He also knocked down Martinez in the fourth, using his potent right hand right in front of his new promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions.
Pe?alosa, now fighting at 118 lbs., scored his 51st victory and his 34th knockout in a career that spanned 17 years.
Pe?alosa told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that he is confident that fellow Filipino boxing icon Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao will give Mexican Erik Morales a good drubbing in their third face off in November.
