The camp of Thailand’s Rattanachai Singwangcha Sor Vorapin believes the disparity in age will be a key factor when the Thai challenges Negrense world champion Gerry Peñalosa on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

''At the age of 31, Rattanachai is stronger and fresher than Penalosa who is 34,'' Vorapin’s manager Korkiat Panichayarom said in a story posted on the online edition of Thai newspaper, Bangkok Post.

It will be the Thai's first crack at the crown after losing to Mexico's Jhonny Gonzalez in 2005. Peñalosa of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental knocked out Gonzalez last year with a big punch to the liver in the seventh round.

At 31, the Ratchasima-born Vorapin has vast experience, fighting 81 fights and winning 72, 48 by knockout. He has 9 losses.

The same report quoted Panichayarom as saying that his fighter has since become stronger after getting knocked out by Penalosa in Manila in 2000.

Penalosa (52-6-2, 46 KOs) has promised to knock out the Thai again before moving up to the junior featherweight division in his bid to get more lucrative fights against the likes of WBO champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.

Peñalosa also vowed to lead and defend the country’s turf against foreign invaders who likewise declared their readiness to ruin the weekend of Filipino boxing fans.

“I have plan A, Plan B and Plan C for this fight. I don’t think my opponent has that kind of preparation,” said Peñalosa when asked about his fight plans against his Thai challenger.

Vorapin remains undaunted.

“I know I can beat him and I proved that the first time we met. I became overconfident that time but this time I am well prepared to win this fight,” said Vorapin in the pre-fight press conference.

A philboxing.com report said the fighters seeing action in the undercard are one-time world title challenger Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista who will defend his WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight crown against Mexican Genaro Camargo, AJ Banal who will challenge world number two super flyweight Caril Herrera of Uruguay in an eliminator for the world #1 ranking, RP bantam champ Michael Domingo vs Thailand's Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana and veteran Bert Batawang takes on Indonesia's Heri Amol.

Another unbeaten fighter, WBO Oriental and Asia-Pacific superbantam titlist Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales will defend his title against South Korea's Yoo Shin Kim (6-1, 4 KO's). *

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