Thursday, October 23, 2008 Peñalosa may no longer have any fights this year
NEGRENSE World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental may no longer have any scheduled fight until the end of the year after he turned down offers to fight on some of the big cards in the United States, including the forthcoming junior welterweight title fight between Ricky Hatton and Paul Malignaggi.
Peñalosa's manager Billy Keane told newsmen in Manila: "Gerry is gone for the rest of the year, I think after he turned down everything. There are no more dates."
Peñalosa was earlier offered to fight Nestor Rocha for $125,000, but he reportedly wanted a bigger prize money and later tried to have the fight staged in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, but it failed to push through due to the peace and order problems in the region.
Reports said a mandatory title defense against Abner Mares likewise did not push through on two counts since the Negrense boxer reportedly wanted a purse of $250,000 while Golden Boy Promotions only offered him $175,000.
Reports had it that the fight would have been possible were it not for the discovery that Mares had a detached retina and had to undergo surgery.
Lately, Peñalosa challenged WBO super bantamweight sensation Juan Manuel Lopez to "stop hiding and to face him" on the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar dela Hoya December 6 play date.
But Peñalosa wanted to get $250,000, which fight promoters were not ready to pay him.
Peñalosa, together with his fellow ALA Boxing stable mate Donny "Ahas" Nietes--the reigning WBO minimum-weight champion from Murcia, Negros Occidental and Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, were named co-Athletes of the Year last year by the sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (Scoop) Bacolod during its annual Awards for Outstanding Athletes of Negros. (HCV)
