Monday, January 12, 2009 Penalosa-Ruiz bout hits snag
MEXICAN Heriberto Ruiz will not be available for Gerry Penalosa's February 21 fight in Cebu City but, just the same, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion said he is expecting a big crowd on the fight night, as he will definitely meet another respectable Mexican champion.
Penalosa, who earlier announced that he is preparing for either a defense of his WBO bantamweight title against Eric Morel or a big fight against WBO Jr. featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico, said if Ruiz, who beat Ray Bautista in his last fight and who was his first choice for the February 21 fight, is not available then he will ask his matchmaker to find him an opponent that would draw a big crowd.
The fight, originally titled "The Mindanao Invasion" as it would feature Mindanao's top professional boxers, has been renamed "Battle of the Best Bantamweights."
It was also initially set to be held at the Mandaue City Sports Center but it may be moved to Cebu Coliseum because of the expected large turnout of boxing fans.
Three other bantamweights from Mindanao will also see action in the card. They are Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato; Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon of Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur; and Glenn "The Rock" Porras of M'lang, North Cotabato.
Magbanua, 23, who is undefeated in 13 fights with eight knockouts, will fight Jose Angel Cota of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, in 12 rounds for the WBO Oriental bantamweight title. The title is vacant because of the medical leave of Filipino champion Michael Domingo who was earlier diagnosed to have Hepatitis B.
Maraon, also 23 and undefeated in 13 fights with 12 wins, one draw and nine knockouts, will go up against compatriot Jason Egera, who will defend his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight crown.
Porras, 23, on the other hand, will figure in a non-title fight against another foreign opponent. Porras has a record of 18 wins, 12 Kos, and 2 losses.
Five other boxers from North Cotabato will be seeing action in the same card. They are the Salinas-California-based featherweight Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales, 23 (8 wins, 1 draw, 4 KOs); featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 22, of Midsayap town (undefeated 12 wins, 12 KOs); Jr. flyweight Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, 22 of M'lang (16 wins, 12 KOs, 2 losses); miniflyweight Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 19, of Pigcawayan (11 wins, 2 losses, 9 KOs); and Jr. flyweight Jermie Jabel, 20, also of Pigcawayan (9 wins, 1 draw, 7 KOs).
North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol, who manages the Mindanao fighters seeing action in the card, said he readily agreed to the idea of Gerry Penalosa fighting in the main event as it would further provide market value to the boxing event which will be carried live by ABS CBN and its international network, The Filipino Channel.
Penalosa's handlers are expected to announce the name of his opponent on Monday.
