Gerry to stake crown at Big Dome

Big time professional boxing returns to the Araneta Coliseum, long regarded as the "Mecca" of Philippine sports and entertainment, on May 5 when WBC international super flyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa stakes his crown against former world junior light flyweight champion Keiji "The Prince" Yamaguchi.

Also featured in the blockbuster triple-header are former WBA minimum weight champion Joma Gamboa and the latest ring sensation, unbeaten Philippine super featherweight champion Randy Suico.

Peñalosa has vowed to beat Yamaguchi at all costs since a victory would ensure his shot against the winner of the May 20 title fight between Masamori Tokuyama and In Joo Cho.

Peñalosa’s manager, lawyer Rudy Salud said the May 5 fight card at the Big Dome is a major step in an effort to "revive the glory days of boxing in our country when we had champions like the late Gabriel "Flash" Elorde and fight fans would flock to the Araneta Coliseum."

Salud said top class venues are important along with skilled and courageous boxers like Peñalosa, Manny Pacquiao, Gamboa and Suico and "if we continue to promote exciting fighters against credible opponents, we’ll be well on the way to bringing back the glory days."

Well-known nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta, who has handled Peñalosa’s diet ever since he lost in his rematch to In Joo Cho in January last year, said Peñalosa was "terrific" in his last two fights when he scored an eighth round TKO victory over rugged Pone Saengmorakot and then knocked out another hard-hitting Thai Rattanachai Sor Vorapin in the sixth round in his last title defense.

She stressed Peñalosa’s discipline and the right food intake have given him added strength, stamina and power.

Yamaguchi, for his part, has also promised to avenge the defeat of Japanese legend Hiroshi Kawashima from whom Peñalosa won the world title in 1997, making the encounter truly a match to watch.

Peñalosa, who has a ring record of 42-3-2 with 26 KO’s, is expected to run into a a tough Yamaguchi, who totes a 29-6-1 record marked with 11 KO’s. The Japanese fighter, who adopted the monicker "The Prince" from his idol Naseem Hamed, has beaten a dozen Filipino boxers, who included Nolito Cabato, Lee Escobido, Rudy Idaho, Texas "Mug" Gomez and Marlon Carillo.