Thursday, April 03, 2008 Invasion foes face off today
TODAY the cast of the first Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) event in the Philippines “Invasion: Philippines vs. The World” will face each other for the first time in a press conference at Gateway Mall.
Heading the April 6 boxing extravaganza, which is set at the Araneta Coliseum, where legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier slugged it out in the famed Thrilla in Manila, is Gerry “The Fearless” Peñalosa (52-6, 35 KOs) who will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (71-9, 47 KOs) in a rematch.
Peñalosa already pummeled Sor Vorapin in their first encounter in a sixth round TKO some six years ago.
Meanwhile, ALA boys Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Michael Domingo arrived yesterday in Manila along with their trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor.
Bautista (24-1, 17 KOs) will also defend his WBO Inter-Continental junior featherweight belt against Mexican Genaro Camargo (16-3, 10 KOs), while Banal (16-0-1, 13 KOs) will have an International Boxing Federation super flyweight title eliminator against the undefeated Caril “El Raton” Herrera (21-0, 13 KOs).
Herrera is reputed to be the Pacquiao of Uruguay and Michael Domingo (34-14-2, 14 KOs) will trade leathers with Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana (18-2, 7 KOs).
The ALA boys had light practice at the Elorde Gym yesterday after their arrival in Manila.
Joining the main cast in tomorrow’s press conference is ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, GBP vice-president Eric Gomez, WBO Asia-Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo and vice-president of ABS-CBN sports Peter Musngi.
This event is a joint promotion by GBP and ALA Promotions in association with ABS-CBN sports.
The weigh-in for all boxers will be on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Gateway Cineplex. (EKA)
