Monday, January 12, 2009 Roach wants to train Peñalosa By Henry C. Villalva
WORLD-renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach said he wants to train reigning Negrense World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa for his upcoming fights.
In a telephone conversation with Manila-based reporters, Roach indicated that Top Rank's Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer had agreed to offer the San Carlos City, Negros Occidental native a title shot at WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez and had already set an April 4 date for said fight either in Las Vegas or New York.
"Gerry told me he wants that fight and I'm waiting to hear back from him. If he agrees to the Lopez fight, then I don't think he has time to train (Nonito) Donaire. I want Gerry to get out here right away because Lopez is a real tough fight for him," Roach was quoted as saying.
Arum said the Peñalosa-Lopez fight has to fall into place before other things could happen in the Negrense's schedule. Under the plan, Peñalosa will have to relinquish his WBO 118-pound title and thus pave the way for mandatory challenger Erik Morel to fight WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel for the vacant title since according to Arum, Montiel could no longer make the super flyweight weight limit.
If this plan happens, then Donaire will have to fight Jose "Carita" Lopez, the WBO no. 2, for the super flyweight crown relinquished by Montiel.
The development is considered timely for Peñalosa who earlier expressed his desire to get out of the Golden Boy Promotions camp in search of other fight possibilities. This would also invalidate an earlier plan for both Peñalosa and Donaire to train together at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) training camp in Baguio City since if he agrees, Peñalosa will have to fly soon to Los Angeles to train in Roach' famous Wild Card Gym.
