Mexican slugger out to spoil Gerry's party

MANILA, Philippines - With the chance of fighting for a third world title hanging in the balance, Gerry Peñalosa risks his future as he faces dangerous German (Panteonero) Meraz of Mexico in a 10-round bout headlining a blockbuster card at the Cebu Coliseum tonight.

Peñalosa is ticketed to challenge unbeaten WBO superbantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez on April 24 in Puerto Rico but a loss to Meraz will cancel his bid to capture a third crown after the WBC superflyweight title and the WBO bantamweight diadem.

“It’s not easy to find an opponent for Gerry because whoever he is, he knows he’s just a prop to prepare for the bigger fight against Lopez,” said North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol who is co-promoting the Cebu bill with Sammy Gello-ani.

But Meraz, who was only two years old when Peñalosa turned pro in 1989, is confident of scoring an upset. The former Mexican Pacific Coast flyweight titlist arrived from Hermosillo last Wednesday on a circuitous route that brought him and trainer Roberto Valenzuela to Paris and Doha in stopovers before landing in Cebu because he had no US visa. It would’ve been easier for Meraz and Valenzuela to fly via the US.

Meraz’ nom de guerre “Panteonero” means a tomb caretaker in the cemetery but Peñalosa isn’t intimidated by the Grim Reaper impersonation. Peñalosa, 36, is in the twilight of a long ring career and his goal is to retire a three-time champion. Meraz and Lopez are in the way of Peñalosa realizing his dream.

Peñalosa said he’ll do what it takes to repulse Meraz and keep his appointment with Lopez. “If he moves a lot, then I’ll pursue him,” said Peñalosa who hasn’t fought since halting Ratanachai Sor Vorapin at the Big Dome in April last year.

The card was initially set at the Mandaue City Sport Center but Piñol and Gello-ani decided to transfer to the bigger Cebu Coliseum to accommodate the large demand for tickets.

“The last time I fought in Cebu, many people were not able to see it live because the coliseum was filled up,” said Peñalosa, referring to his second round demolition of Samingkao Chutipol in 2004. “I would like to give my fans in Cebu a chance to see this fight because this could be one of my last few fights.”

Peñalosa promised to treat the fans to a show they’ll never forget.

“I’m inviting the Cebuanos to come and watch the fight. I will show them all what I’ve got,” said Peñalosa, who started his career and eventually made a name in boxing in Cebu.

“It is just fitting that I have to return the favor to the Cebuanos. I dedicate this fight to them,” Peñalosa said.

Meraz will play the spoiler’s role in trying to win his first fight outside of Mexico after losing in Germany last year. Meraz’ record is 20-11-1, with eight KOs, compared to Peñalosa’s 53-6-2, with 36 KOs.

In other fights, unbeaten Rolando Magbanua faces Mexico’s Jose Angel (Bocho) Cota for the WBO interim bantamweight crown, undefeated Jundy (Pretty Boy) Maraon meets WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Jason Egera and bantamweight Glenn (The Rock) Porras tests the mettle of Thailand’s Daothon Sithsoey.

Magbanua, 23, has a 13-0 record, with eight KOs and takes on the hard-hitting Cota who flew in with handlers Arturo Franco and Joseph Steve from Mexicali last Tuesday. Magbanua is called the “Smooth Operator” because of his fluid fighting style and is from the Christian frontier town of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, some 20 kilometers from Camp Darapanan, the main enclave of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Cota’s record is 8-3, with six KOs, including three in the first round.

Maraon, 23, is from Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, and has a record of 12-0-1, with nine KOs. Egera, a southpaw from Dumaguete City, is making the first defense of his WBO Asia Pacific title. His record is 10-2, with five KOs. Porras, 23, hails from M’lang, North Cotabato, and has a record of 20-3, with 12 KOs.

Magbanua, Maraon and Porras belong to Piñol’s Braveheart stable. Other stablemates in the card are unbeaten superfeatherweight Glenn (Rapid Fire) Gonzales, featherweight Lorenzo (Thunderbolt) Villanueva, lightflyweight Edrin (The Sting) Dapudong, minimumweight Rommel (Little Assasin) Asenjo, flyweight Jerome (The Worm) Jabel and superflyweight Richard (Lion Heart) Betos.

“I am sure Cebu boxing fans will appreciate the hidden talents that we have in Mindanao and this will be an opportunity for my boys to prove their worth,” said Piñol. – With report from Manny Villaruel