|
By Eddie G. Alinea, Contributor
HE may have knocked Ratanachai Sor Vorapin the
first time they met, but Filipino world Boxing Organization
bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa still considers his mandatory
challenger a dangerous opponent.
The 35-year-old Peñalosa is set to defend his
crown against Vorapin in a rematch on April 6 at the Araneta
Coliseum.
“Kahit tinalo ko siya, alam ko gutom siya
hindi lang para maging champion kung hindi para siya makabawi sa
akin [Even if I beat him, I know that he’s hungry not only to
become champion but also to get even with me],”said Peñalosa.
Peñalosa (52-6-2, 35 KO’s) stopped Vorapin in
the sixth round of their first encounter on November 2000 at the
Casino Filipino in Parañaque to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC)
International super flyweight crown.
“Gusto ko din iganti yung mga tinalo niyang
Pilipino kaya ganun na lang ang sipag kong mag-ensayo [I also want
to avenge the other Filipinos he defeated, that’s why I’m
training so hard],” he added.
Since losing to Peñalosa, the 31-year-old
Vorapin (72-9-48 KO’s) feasted on nearly a dozen nondescript
Filipino fighters he faced in that almost eight-year span. Five of
the Thai’s last six foes were against Filipino journeymen, beating
them all by knockout.
Fighting beneath the Peñalosa-Vorapin 12-round
is Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista who will battle Mexican Genaro
Camargo while AJ Banal will meet undefeated and highly rated Caril
Herrera of Uruguay.
Meanwhile, another Filipino world champion,
Donnie Nietes, expressed his readiness to defend his WBO minimum
weight crown against mandatory challenger Daniel Reyes of Colombia.
Michael Aldeguer, the promoter of Nietes, said
he is grooming the fighter to big-time matches in the United States
should he get past Reyes.
Nietes will stake his crown against Reyes on
April 18 in Dubai in a historic fight card headlined by the world
flyweight title fight between Filipino world champion Nonito Donaire
Jr. and Australian hopeful Hussein Hussein.
|
