Lopez muna bago si Peñalosa

Ang panalo ni Mexican world super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon kay Juan Manuel Lopez ng Puerto Rico ang magtatakda sa kanilang rematch ni Filipino world bantamweight titlist Gerry Peñalosa.

Ito ang inihayag ni Eric Gomez, ang vice-president at international matchmaker ng Golden Boy Promotions ni Oscar Dela Hoya kaugnay sa sinasabing pinakahihintay na rematch ngayong taon.

Ayon kay Gomez, kung mayroon mang boksingero na tatalo sa 27-anyos na si Ponce De Leon ito ay ang 35-anyos na si Peñalosa.

“I think from any of the guys out there who’s right along the weight class of Ponce De Leon, I think Gerry is probably one of the only guys that can beat him because of Gerry’s style,” ani Go-mez kay Peñalosa. “He can take a punch. He has never been knocked out.”

Matatandaang umiskor si Ponce De Leon ng kontrobersyal na unanimous decision sa kanilang unang paghaharap ni Peñalosa noong Marso 17 sa Las Vegas, Nevada para mapanatili ang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title.

Tangan ngayon ni Ponce De Leon, magdedepensa ng kanyang korona kay Lopez (21-0-0, 19 KOs) sa Hunyo 6 sa Forth Worth, Texas, ang 34-1-0 (30 KOs).

Matagumpay na naipagtanggol na-man ni Peñalosa ang kanyang WBO bantamweight belt laban kay Thai challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin noong Linggo via eight-round TKO.

“Gerry gave him a good fight. He just need a little more preparation for their rematch. He needed to throw a little bit more punches. I know that Gerry learned from his mistakes and he’s now a world champion and has more confidence,” ani Gomez kay Peñalosa, may 53-6-2 (36 KOs) card. (Russell Cadayona)