GERRY PEÑALOSA VS. ERIC MOREL. It’s a pity Gerry Peñalosa doesn’t fight more often. With Gerry, boxing seems so effortless and uncomplicated.
Watch him jab, weave his head and sidestep oncoming artillery. Even today, there’s no Pinoy fighter gifted with the prescient knowledge that Gerry has in anticipating his opponent’s moves.
Or marvel at him lure an unsuspecting lug into committing to an overhand right only to find out Gerry has beaten him to it with sneaky left hook.
I don’t blame all these champions who have avoided him through these years. He’s a fighter’s worst nightmare.
He’s a southpaw. He’s a veteran. He’s got crippling power. And if that’s not enough, he’s a counter-puncher with granite in his jaw.
For lack of credible opponents willing to fight him in his last fight, Gerry moved up and fought another equally avoided and dangerous fighter in Juan Manuel Lopez.
Though the bout was stopped in the 10th round, Gerry gave a very good account of himself and remained on his feet.
How will it go against Puerto Rican Eric Morel?
Morel was on the cusp of boxing stardom when he met up with another undefeated fighter in Lorenzo Parra in 2003.
Unfortunately, Parra got the better of Morel and dominated him en route to a unanimous decision win. After another loss to Martin Castillo two fights later, Morel was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and was incarcerated.
Now, he’s back and on a nice six-fight win streak. Does he have what it takes to defeat Gerry?
He definitely has the tools and the championship pedigree to upset a fighter like Gerry. But the latter’s just too clever a fighter to be outfought by a flat-footed banger like Morel.
It’s not Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, but it’s a tough compelling fight for one of our country’’s flagship fighters.
MARK JASON MELLIGEN VS. RAYMOND GATICA— Mark Jason didn’t quite live up to expectations in his last fight against veteran Michael Rosales.
Unfortunately, that setback might parlay into this fight not being part of the live pay-per-view broadcast. If that’s the case, then it’s a pity.
This ALA gym fighter has so much potential and has gained valuable exposure, having fought four of his last five fights in the USA.
In the Rosales loss, this young spunky kid from Bacolod City might have been spooked by what happened to his teammate Z Gorres, who fought before him on the same card.
Gatica sports an immaculate 11-0 record with 6 KOs.
A victory over him should get Melligen right back on track.
NONITO DONAIRE JR. VS. MANUEL VARGAS. We all know what the “Filipino Flash” can do. He’s fast, powerful and owns the mother of all left hooks. If you’ve got a problem with that last statement, please redirect all queries to Vic Darchinyan.
As a last-minute sub, Vargas comes quite credible coming off a split decision loss to WBO miniumweight champ Donnie Nietes.
The fact that he was competitive with Nietes tells us that Vargas won’t be coming to the fight to lie down and take his paycheck.
Interestingly, Vargas is no stranger to fighting at the superflyweight division. Donaire better come bring his “A” game. We don’t want upsets of that sort.
Watch the fights on ABS-CBN Channel 2 at 10:30 a.m. today.
LAST ROUNDS. It’s on a trio of Valentine’s Day birthday celebrants--my compañero Atty. Dennis Quiokeles, badminton mate Haydee Wang and childhood buddy Rommel “Bords” Hapin. Cheers!
(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)