Despite his initial knockout win, Filipino world Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa of San Carlos City , Negros Occidental still considers his mandatory challenger, Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand , a dangerous opponent.

The 35-year-old Penalosa squares off against Vorapin in a rematch on April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I know he's hungry and he wants to get back at me,” Penalosa said Friday.

Penalosa (52-6-2, 35 KO's) stopped Vorapin in the sixth round during their initial encounter last November 2000 at the Casino Filipino in Paranaque . Penalosa won the World Boxing Council international super flyweight crown.

Since losing to Penalosa, the 31-year-old Vorapin (72-9-0, 48 KO's) feasted on nearly a dozen Filipino fighters he faced in that almost eight-year span.. Five of the Thai's last six foes were against Filipino journeymen, beating them all by knockout.

Fighting beneath the Penalosa-Vorapin 12-round is Rey “Boom Boom” Bautistsa who will battle Mexican Genaro Camargo while AJ Banal will meet undefeated and highly-rated Caril Herrera of Uruguay.* www.philboxing.com

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