INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantam champion Gerry Peñalosa is set to defend his title for the second time on July 19 or 26 against Mexican Isidro “El Chino” Garcia in Cebu City.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani announced Monday that the event will also feature former world champion Oscar “Chololo” Larios of Mexico in his comeback fight against Indonesia’s Alexander Bajawa.

Larios last saw action in February, defeating compatriot Arturo Gomez by unanimous decision. Larios was earlier stopped by Jorge Linares in their WBC featherweight title clash.

Peñalosa will stake his crown anew after impressively retaining it last April 6 with an eighth-round TKO over Thailand’s Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.

The two-division world champion is aiming to get a second chance at WBO super bantamweight titlist Daniel Ponce De Leon, who dealt him a controversial defeat early last year.

Also in the card is unbeaten Ciso Morales, who will defend his WBO Oriental super bantam title against Hussein Pazzi of Tanzania.

The card will be televised nationally, according to Gello-ani.

The New Cebu Coliseum is the most likely candidate as venue for the fight as the more spacious Cebu City Sports Center is unavailable because of the rainy season.