The boxing main event was on and Filipino prospect Dave Peñalosa couldn’t take his eyes off the TV showing compatriot Jerwin Ancajas defending his IBF super flyweight belt against Mexican challenger Alejandro Santiago.
Peñalosa is currently undefeated with 13 wins, nine coming by knockouts. He still has a lot of work ahead of him before getting on the same level as Ancajas, but his uncle Gerry, who is a former two-division world champion, believes his nephew is bound for greatness.
“He really has a bright future in boxing,” the former super flyweight and bantamweight titleholder told INQUIRER.net in Filipino on Saturday during the official weigh-in at TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City.
The two may share the same name and pedigree but that’s as far as their similarities go inside the ring.
“Dave is different. What’s nice about him is his killer instinct. He fights like he’s going to kill a snake that’s why his fights are worth watching,” said Gerry, who made a name for himself as a technical fighter.
The younger Peñalosa, whose father Dodie Boy is also an ex-world champion like his uncle, faces Twalib Tuwa of Tanzania (25-5-2, 14 KOs) in Sunday’s headliner with three other main bouts promoted by Gerry’s GerryPens Promotions, Inc.
Fighting in the main undercards are Reymart Gaballo, Carlo Peñalosa and the returning former bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales in a Philippines-Tanzania showdown.
Gaballo takes on Julias Kisarawe, Tapales faces Goodluck Mrame while Carlo Peñalosa clashes with James Kibazange.
The event, which will be held at SM North Edsa SkyDome, will be shown live at 1 p.m. on ESPN 5.