Hapones pababagsakin ni Peñalosa

Sinabi kahapon ni American trainer Freddie Roach na sisikaping mapabagsak ni dating WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa si Masamori Tokuyama sa kanyang mandatory title rematch at inaasahan nitong magaganap ito sa mga huling rounds ng kanilang laban sa Osaka sa Biyernes.

Sa kanyang overseas telephone conversation sa Viva-Sports na siyang magpapalabas ng pinakahihintay na rematch via satellite pagkatapos ng Game-Two ng PBA All Filipino Cup Finals, sinabi ni Roach na ‘we need a knockout to win this fight and that’s what we are going after. Peñalosa will start very aggressively from round one until this is over.

Ayon kay Roach na nakilala sa paghubog sa IBF junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao bilang world champion, na kailangang makauna na ito sa laban. "The opponent (Tokuyama) is tough but I think Gerry will stop him in the late rounds. He need to push this guy because I want Gerry to live right in his chest and make him work inside all night because Tokuyama has a pretty good right hand from the outside."

Sinabi rin ni Roach na kulang ng kalahating libra sa 115 pound limit si Peñalosa. "He’s in great shape for this fight. He’s very positive and knows the game plan. It’s unfortunate that his father Carl passed away recently but the fight is very important to Gerry and he is doing everything the right way."

Idinagdag pa ni Roach na gina-gamit ni Tokuyama ang kanyang ulo na siyang naging dahilan ng mga sugat ni Peñalosa sa kanilang unang pagha-harap noong September ng naka-raang taon na napanalunan ni Toku-yama via controversial decision dahil hindi na-penalty si Tokuyama sa kan-yang ilang head-butts at low blows.

"Peñalosa just can’t stay in front of him. He’s got to use the angles. I want Gerry to stay a llitle lower than Tokuyama and I want Gerry’s head on his chest so there will be no headbutts."