Post by Baqu3ro on Jul 12, 2008 19:27:10 GMT 8
By Joaquin Henson
Saturday, July 12, 2008
WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa yesterday cautioned newly crowned WBC lightweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao to take his training seriously for unbeaten knockout artist Edwin Valero whom he described as more dangerous than latest victim David Diaz.
Pacquiao is being lined up by Top Rank chairman Bob Arum to face Valero on Nov. 15 in Houston, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. It will be Pacquiao’s first defense of the 135-pound throne as Valero, the WBA superfeatherweight champion, moves up in class for the fight of his life.
Although Peñalosa said Valero is a better fighter than Diaz, he said the Venezuelan will suffer the same fate in Pacquiao’s hands.
“Like Diaz, Valero is slow and a southpaw,” said Peñalosa. “It will be the same result because Manny is just too fast and too strong. This will be Valero’s first fight at lightweight so I expect him to be smaller than Manny. He may be better than Diaz but he’s far from being in the same level as Manny.”
What makes Valero a threat is his one-punch knockout power. He has compiled a 24-0 record, with 24 KOs, including 19 in the first round.
“Manny can’t afford to be overconfident,” continued Peñalosa. “He has to train for Valero just as hard as he did for Diaz, maybe harder. Valero is dangerous because he has power. I just don’t know if he can bring his power to the lightweight division where the fighters are bigger and better able to take his punches. But when you fight a power puncher, anything can happen.”
Peñalosa said Valero has no chance of winning because Pacquiao is at his peak.
“Manny keeps getting better and better, like age doesn’t matter,” Peñalosa went on. “Against Diaz, he was like a machine, a complete fighter. He fought the best I’ve ever seen him, next to the first (Marco Antonio) Barrera fight.”
Peñalosa said the addition of strength and conditioning coach Alejandro Ariza to Pacquao’s training team made a big difference.
Peñalosa, meanwhile, said he will formally announce his fight against Nestor Rocha of California in a press conference next week. His Los Angeles manager Billy Keane is finalizing negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions to bring Rocha to Tubod, Lanao del Norte, where Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo is bidding to host the title defense on Aug. 20.
There were plans for Peñalosa to battle Rocha in Tucson, Arizona, on Aug. 1 or in Las Vegas on Sept. 13. But Peñalosa, who was in Ozamiz City to confer with Dimaporo the other day, said it looks like Rocha will agree to fly over for a $35,000 purse.
Rocha, who is 10 years younger than Peñalosa at 25, has a 19-1 record, with six KOs, and holds a win by decision over Filipino Sherwin Manalad in Tokyo three years ago.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa yesterday cautioned newly crowned WBC lightweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao to take his training seriously for unbeaten knockout artist Edwin Valero whom he described as more dangerous than latest victim David Diaz.
Pacquiao is being lined up by Top Rank chairman Bob Arum to face Valero on Nov. 15 in Houston, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. It will be Pacquiao’s first defense of the 135-pound throne as Valero, the WBA superfeatherweight champion, moves up in class for the fight of his life.
Although Peñalosa said Valero is a better fighter than Diaz, he said the Venezuelan will suffer the same fate in Pacquiao’s hands.
“Like Diaz, Valero is slow and a southpaw,” said Peñalosa. “It will be the same result because Manny is just too fast and too strong. This will be Valero’s first fight at lightweight so I expect him to be smaller than Manny. He may be better than Diaz but he’s far from being in the same level as Manny.”
What makes Valero a threat is his one-punch knockout power. He has compiled a 24-0 record, with 24 KOs, including 19 in the first round.
“Manny can’t afford to be overconfident,” continued Peñalosa. “He has to train for Valero just as hard as he did for Diaz, maybe harder. Valero is dangerous because he has power. I just don’t know if he can bring his power to the lightweight division where the fighters are bigger and better able to take his punches. But when you fight a power puncher, anything can happen.”
Peñalosa said Valero has no chance of winning because Pacquiao is at his peak.
“Manny keeps getting better and better, like age doesn’t matter,” Peñalosa went on. “Against Diaz, he was like a machine, a complete fighter. He fought the best I’ve ever seen him, next to the first (Marco Antonio) Barrera fight.”
Peñalosa said the addition of strength and conditioning coach Alejandro Ariza to Pacquao’s training team made a big difference.
Peñalosa, meanwhile, said he will formally announce his fight against Nestor Rocha of California in a press conference next week. His Los Angeles manager Billy Keane is finalizing negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions to bring Rocha to Tubod, Lanao del Norte, where Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo is bidding to host the title defense on Aug. 20.
There were plans for Peñalosa to battle Rocha in Tucson, Arizona, on Aug. 1 or in Las Vegas on Sept. 13. But Peñalosa, who was in Ozamiz City to confer with Dimaporo the other day, said it looks like Rocha will agree to fly over for a $35,000 purse.
Rocha, who is 10 years younger than Peñalosa at 25, has a 19-1 record, with six KOs, and holds a win by decision over Filipino Sherwin Manalad in Tokyo three years ago.
