Monday, April 07, 2008 Invaders repulsed By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
GERRY Peñalosa scored a sensational eight round technical knockout (TKO) win over Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand to keep his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown and cap a courageous Sunday for Filipino boxers at the historic Araneta Colisem in Quezon City.
The 35-year-old Peñalosa sent Vorapin on the seat of his pants with a flurry of punches early in the round, then staggered the Thai fighter with some more big shots when action resumed, forcing referee Gino Rodriguez to stop the bout with 29 seconds remaining in the eight.
Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, AJ "Bazooka" Banal, and Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales also stopped their respective foes as the Philippines repulsed the foreign invaders in the card dubbed Invasion: Philippines vs The World.
Bautista floored Genaro Carmago of Mexico three times en route to a fantastic second round KO win, while Banal fashioned out a fourth round TKO victory over erstwhile undefeated Caril Herrera of Uruguay.
Morales also won via a fourth round TKO over Yoo-Sin Kim of South Korea.
With the win, Bautista retained his WBO inter-continental super bantamweight title. The Banal-Herrere clash was an IBF eliminator.
World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao was on hand to give Peñalosa moral support, even accompanying the boxer from San Carlos City from his dressing room all the way to the ring.
Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Pacquiao defeated to claim the WBC title, was also in attendance.
Marquez reiterated his challenged to Pacquiao to fight him a third time.
"Let's do it again for the people," Marquez told the Filipino boxer.
