Peñalosa girds for title defense

It’s almost a done deal for WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa to stake his crown against dangerous Mexican challenger Abner Mares in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya mainer at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 6.

Peñalosa said yesterday his Los Angeles manager Billy Keane, who is trainer Freddie Roach’s best friend, is negotiating for a $250,000 purse after Mares’ promoter Golden Boy offered $200,000.

“If Golden Boy won’t agree to $250,000, Billy told me he’ll find a way to cover the difference of $50,000,” said Peñalosa. “My other option was to fight Nestor Rocha for $150,000. I chose Mares not only because the purse is higher but also because he’s a better fighter. It’ll be a big test for me to fight a younger and hungry challenger.”

Mares, 22, was only three years old when Peñalosa turned pro in 1989. And he was 11 when Peñalosa won the WBC superflyweight crown in 1997.

Peñalosa said he is now doing light gym work and his weight is around 128 pounds, 10 over the bantamweight limit. He plans to leave for Los Angeles on Oct. 12 to hook up with Roach at the Wild Card Gym.

“Coach Freddie will supervise my workouts in the morning and take care of Manny in the afternoon,” said Peñalosa. “I’ll have eight weeks to prepare for Mares in LA and I think that’s more than enough time to get ready.”

Peñalosa said he made up his mind to fight Mares after the unbeaten Guadalajara-born Athens Olympian knocked out Filipino Diosdado Gabi in two rounds last March.

“I’m impressed with Mares,” said Peñalosa. “He’s strong and quick. But he has no experience. I know he’s not better than Jhonny Gonzalez (whom Peñalosa stopped with a single blow to the body for the WBO title last year). I’ll put pressure on him, throw a lot of counters and use my experience. But how I’ll fight him depends on what Freddie decides. I’m confident I can beat him.”

Last week, Peñalosa paid former WBC secretary-general Rudy Salud a visit and sought his advice on his ring career.

Salud said if Peñalosa beats Mares, he should fight just once more before hanging up his gloves so he can devote more time for his wife Goody and their two children J.C. Boy, 9, and Julienne Gayle, 6.

“Everything depends on how Gerry does against Mares,” said Salud. “If he loses badly, he should retire. If he beats Mares, he should call out Israel Vazquez for a big money fight. It’s Vazquez who’s the world superbantamweight champion. He’ll bring the big money to the table, not Rafael Marquez, not Daniel Ponce de Leon. Then after he fights Vazquez, that’s it.”

Peñalosa, 36, said he’s excited to fight in the undercard of what is shaping up to be Pacquiao’s legacy bout. That’s the reason why he chose to fight Mares, not Rocha, because it’ll be a guaranteed humdinger.

Mares boasts of an unblemished 17-0 record, with 10 KOs, but his only “name” opponent so far was former WBO flyweight titlist Isidro Garcia whom he beat on a technical decision last year. Although a Mexican native, Mares has never fought in his homeland since turning pro three years ago and lives in the US. In his most recent outing last June, Mares outpointed Jonathan Arias in Cabarzon, California.

Mares compiled an amateur record of 112-8, with 84 KOs, and lost to Hungary ’s Zsoit Bedak in his Olympic debut in 2004.

Peñalosa has figured in 11 world title fights and is coming off an eighth round stoppage of Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in his first WBO championship defense last April. His record is 53-6-2, with 36 KOs. His six losses were all on points, four by split decision.

Peñalosa is 13 years older than Mares with 44 more fights under his belt. Youth versus experience will be the theme of conflict in the bout.