Roach cancels RP visit

Freddie Roach won’t be coming to town after all. The celebrated American trainer, who guided Manny Pacquiao to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight title last year, begged off from a visit that would’ve brought him to fight hubs in Manila and Cebu.

According to lawyer Rudy Salud, Roach canceled his trip next month because of fight commitments in Japan and the US. Besides, Pacquiao will be back in Roach’s gym in Hollywood in a few weeks to prepare for his next championship defense, possibly in late March.

Salud said assuming Gerry Peñalosa defeats Philippine titlist Joel Avila on March 2 at the Makati Coliseum, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion will join Pacquiao in Roach’s gym. Salud added that Los Angeles promoter Don Chargin has offered Peñalosa a spot in his next promotion. However, Salud hasn’t decided whether or not to take the offer.

"It’s not the purse," noted Salud. "It’s the fact that we’re considering Peñalosa to fight against Malcolm Tuñacao with the winner to challenge for the WBC crown. In that fight, at least we’re assured that the next challenger will be a Filipino–Gerry or Malcolm."

Meanwhile, Tuñacao’s older brother Noel–nicknamed "The Eel" for his elongated body and slippery tactics–is being lined up for a shot at the IBF junior flyweight diadem held by unbeaten Mexican icon Ricardo (Finito) Lopez.

Noel, 31, has won his last 10 outings and is ripe for a title crack. In 1992, he faced Hiroki Ioka for the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior flyweight title and lost on points. Now, nearly 10 years later, Tuñacao is knocking on the door once more for a shot at the throne.

Noel’s business manager Leon Panoncillo, a Hawaii-based Filipino who sources Asian talents for Don King, said the fight could be in late March or early April. Panoncillo, who arranged for Andy Tabanas’ two shots at the World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title last year, predicted Noel to beat Lopez whom he said "doesn’t have it anymore."

Lopez, 34, has a frightening record of 50-0-1, with 37 KOs. But he fought only once last year, stopping Zolani Petelo in eight. Lopez wrested the WBC minimumweight crown from Hideyuki Ohashi via a fifth round knockout in 1990 and repulsed 21 straight challengers before annexing the WBA version and adding the IBF junior flyweight title to his collection.

Lopez outpointed Will Grigsby to claim the IBF 108-pound crown last year and halted Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in his first defense. Three of Lopez’s knockout victims in title fights were Filipinos–Manny Melchor in 1993, Tabanas in 1995, and Edito (Ala) Villamor in 1996.

Noel, one of nine children and the only bachelor in the family, lacks the power of a Pacquiao but has the ring savvy of a Peñalosa. He was brilliant in outclassing former WBA interim titleholder Songkram Porpaoin of Thailand in a 10-round bout here last August to raise his record to 38-5-2, with 17 KOs.

In other local boxing news, Cebu businessman Tony Aldeguer is eager to introduce his protégé Dindo Castañares and ZC Gorres to Manila fans. They’re by far the best prospects in Aldeguer’s stable today.

Castañares, 20, is the reigning Philippine junior welterweight champion. He boasts a perfect 9-0 record, with six KOs. The five-time national amateur titlist beat veteran Joe Escriber to win the Philippine 140-pound crown in only his fifth pro outing and in only his sixth month since leaving the simon-pure ranks.

Last August, Castañares broke his jaw in the seventh round but held on to outpoint tough Thai import Pinminit Sitarrun in Cebu. The injury kept Castañares in cold storage for close to two months. He came back to stop No. 1 contender Renato Andales in two last December.

Castañares is ranked No. 1 by the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF). Aldeguer, however, isn’t rushing a title shot for the Cebu City slugger. "He lost a lot of weight while recovering from his jaw injury," said Aldeguer. "He’s about six months to a year away from challenging for the OPBF title. But right now, I want him fighting the big guns in Manila. We’ve run out of good opposition in the South."

Another protégé Gorres, a flyweight, is a future star. "He has to develop more power but he’s flashy, reminds me of Gerry Peñalosa," said Aldeguer.

Gorres, whom Aldeguer described as scientifica and clever, packs a 5-0 mark, with two KOs. In only his fourth pro bout, Gorres went the distance in defeating veteran Bert Cano.

"Both are exciting fighters," said Aldeguer. "They need national exposure. Although they’ve both appeared on several In This Corner telecasts, what I want for them is to fight in front of a live crowd in Manila. The stronger the opposition, the better for them to prove their worth."

Any takers?