Peñalosa says De Leon is just an ordinary fighter

Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa calls Juan Ponce de Leon an ordinary fighter and that he expressed confidence of winning over the reigning Mexican champion when they collide on in the ring next week.

Peñalosa is set to challenge De Leon for the WBO super bantamweight crown in the supporting main event of the keenly-awaited Marco Antonio Barrera-Juan Manual Marquez super featherweight showdown on March 17 (March 18 in RP) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"He is good, but he is just an ordinary fighter. There are other champions in the same division who are better than him. He can't take away my dream neither does he intimidate me," said Peñalosa in a report by notifight.com.

"I feel very motivated to carry the title back to the Philippines. I have the technique and a great desire to once more be a world champion. I'm very confident that I will win this fight," added Peñalosa in the same internet report.

De Leon thinks otherwise, even vowing to knock out his Filipino challenger.

"I feel very strong in this weight (112 pounds) and make no mistake about me that I will knock out Gerry Peñalosa," warned De Leon. "He had good technique, but was too small therefore I dare to predict that this fight will not last the distance."

De Leon (30-1, 28KOs) will make the fourth defense of the WBO belt he seized by beating Thai Sod Looknongyangtoy via unanimous decision on October 29, 2005 at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona.

De Leon's past three successful defenses were all by knockout capped by an eighth round stoppage of American Al Seeger on October 21 last year at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

Peñalosa (51-5-2, 34KOs), on the other hand, once reigned as WBC super flyweight king five times before being dethroned by South Korean In Joo Cho via controversial split decision on September 29, 1998 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Seoul.

Peñalosa attempted to regain his throne thrice but lost all - one against Cho and twice against North Korean-born Japanese Masamori Tokuyama - the last forced him into temporary retirement in 2002.

Two years later, Peñalosa announced his ring return and swiftly made in impact by knocking out Thai Samingkao Chutipol in round two on September 19, 2004 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Since then, Peñalosa racked up four straight victories including a spectacular ninth round knockout of former two-time world champion Mauricio Pastrana the last time he fought on October 21 last year at Don Haskins Center. In that same card, Peñalosa witnessed De Leon pounded Seeger into eighth round submission.