MANILA, Philippines – Kung may bagay mang sasandalan ang 36-anyos na si Gerry Peñalosa, ito ay ang kanyang malawak na eksperyensa sa ibabaw ng boxing ring.
Ito ang pahayag kahapon ni American trainer Freddie Roach kaugnay sa paghahamon ni Peñalosa kay world super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez ngayong araw sa Ruben Rodriguez Coliseo sa Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
“Gerry Peñalosa has a lot of experience, he’s a very crafty fighter, his defense is great,” ani Roach kay Peñalosa. “So I don’t think López has ever faced someone with quite the experience that Peñalosa has so I think we can pull this around.”
Puntirya ng Filipino world two-division titlist na si Peñalosa ang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight belt ng 25-anyos na si Lopez.
Naghari na ang tubong San Carlos City, Cebu sa super flyweight division ng World Boxing Council (WBC) at sa bantamweight class ng WBO.
Ayon sa 49-anyos na si Roach, dapat dumepensa nang husto si Peñalosa sa unang apat na rounds mula na rin sa pagi-ging knockout artist ni Lopez.
“Well you know Juan’s a very good fighter, great puncher, he’s a fast starter. I told Gerry the beginning of the fight is going to be really rough. The first four rounds you’re gonna have to bite down and fight hard and I think as we get into the later rounds it’s gonna favor us,” wika ni Roach.
Kung si Roach lamang ang masusunod ay mas gusto niyang gawin ang naturang laban ni Peñalosa kay Lopez sa Pilipinas.
“I’ts gonna be a great fight and it’s good to be here in Puerto Rico,” ani Roach. “I’d rather have the fight maybe in the Phillipnes, but we’re here and my guy is ready and we came all this way to win.” (Russell Cadayona)