Farenas, Penalosa Jr gear for big battles in the US in December

DODIE Boy Peñalosa Jr. and Michael Fareñas are in the midst of preparations for their respective appearances on the undercards of big fights abroad.

Dodie Boy, Jr will fight for the first time overseas in Las Vegas on December 8 on the undercard of the fourth fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Former two division world champion turned promoter Gerry Peñalosa e-mailed this writer and said that he still does not know the name of the  opponent for his nephew but he is set to make his long awaited debut in the United States. Peñalosa,Jr was set to make his second pro fight in the US two years ago but the plan never materialized.

In his last fight here in Cebu last April, Dodie Boy Jr. stopped Indonesian Alex Buckie in nine rounds at the Mandaue City Sports Complex. The undefeated Peñalosa Jr. has a record of nine wins, all by knockout.

Fareñas (34W-3L-4D, 26 KOs) on the other hand, will be fighting on the undercard of the fight between WBO super bantamweight Nonito Donaire and Mexico’s Jorge Arce in Houston, Texas on December 15. He was initially considered to be part of the Pacquiao-Marquez IV undercard.

Fareñas, who also fights under GerryPens Promotions, had a world title shot in Japan last July against WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uichiyama but the fight ended in a technical draw.