UNDEFEATED Cebuano prospect Dave Peñalosa gets an opportunity to break into the world rankings as he takes on Mexican veteran Marcos Cardenas for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight crown on Feb. 16 at the SM Sky Dome in Manila.
Dave takes on his biggest test in Cardenas, whom his uncle and two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa believes would be a foe who should boost his young promising career.
“This should be a huge help for him,” Gerry, who’s Dave’s promoter, told SunStar Cebu.
This should be Dave’s stiffest opponent to date. The 28-year-old Cardenas has fought some elite names, with the likes of Genesis Servania, Romulo Koasicha, Miguel Marriaga and current World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight king Rey Vargas. He is on a three-fight winning streak and is coming off a fifth round knockout over newcomer Gael Ibarra.
Dave, 27, won both of his fights last year against Ricky Manufoe and Twalib Tuwa, whom he both knocked out.
“If he gets ranked in the world, then I’ll do my best to get him a world championship fight,” said Gerry.
Dave is 14-0 with 10 knockouts, while Cardenas is 19-6-1 with 15 knockouts.
Two-division world champion Johnriel Casimero (25-4, 16 KOs) is also seeing action in the boxing show. He faces off with Japanese youngster Kenya Yamashita (13-4, 10 KOs).
This is the 29-year-old Casimero’s ring return since losing to Jonas Sultan in 2017 in Cebu City. He only fought once last year and stopped patsy Mexican Jose Pech in Mexico.
The 22-year-old Yamashita, on the other hand, is coming off a third-round knockout of former world title challenger John Mark Apolinario.
Unbeaten Ifugao pug Carl Jammes Martin (11-0, 10 KOs) slugs it out with former World Boxing Council (WBC) ABC Silver flyweight champion Petchchorhae Kokietgym (17-2, 8 KOs) in the undercard. EKA