Reigning WBO bantamweight champion Gerry “Fearless” Peñalosa will once again visit the Queen City of the South to grace tonight’s “Rambulan sa Liloan” boxing show topbilled by his prized ward Michael Fareñas (21-2-2, 18KOs) at the Panphil B. Frasco Memorial Sports Complex in Liloan, Cebu.
The 24-year-old Fareñas, who is now based in Foothill Ranch in California, United States, will trade mitss with Thai featherweight prospect Boonmee Sithsrivinitwit-thayakom. Though no title is at stake, the match is of paramount importance for Fareñas as this will be his ticket to a bigger, more lucrative ring sortie ahead.
“Gerry Peñalosa is coming over to personally lend moral support to his boxer (Fareñas). His presence will surely inspire Fareñas to put up an impressive performance,” said event matchmaker Willie Flores. Peñalosa was here in Cebu last Saturday, adding glitz and glamour to the blockbuster “Laban na Banal” card at the Cebu Coliseum.
Peñalosa (53-6-2, 36KOs) is slated to defend his WBO throne against the dangerous Mexican challenger Nestor Rocha (19-1, 6KOs) on September 20 at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. It will be his second defense of the crown he seized via a spectacular seventh round stoppage of erstwhile titlist Jhonny Gonzalez in the Boxing World Cup on August 2 last year at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
If victorious, Fareñas will be inserted in the undercard of the Peñalosa-Rocha rumble against Hussein Pazzi (17-8-1, 7KOs) of Tanzania for the interim WBO Oriental featherweight championship.
In the equally-exciting supporting bouts, former PABA light flyweight champion Marvin “Leyte Bomber” Tampus will square off against Jonrey Verano of Valencia, Bukidnon, while Jonathan Baat of Cebu will take on Daniel Diolan of Zamboanga.
The preliminaries feature Rodulfo Sumabong vs. Renan Branzuela, Jason Siaton vs. Elmar Francisco, Adonis Aguello vs. Randy Megriños, Jaime Bermisdo vs. Andy Seneres, Jherpaul Valero vs. Christian Dave Baliguat, and Ponce de Leon vs. Aljered Tuñacao.
The slambang show presented by MP Promotions of Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao in partnership with RWS Promotions International and Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco is the first pro boxing card in three years in the bustling municipality famous for its mouth-watering delicacies rosquillos and otap. The last was on June 12, 2005 when Wyndel “Braveheart” Janiola stopped Ricky Escaner in 1:33 of the second round. — EBV