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Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Peñalosa: I'm ready for Morel

World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. was saddened when his foe, Mexican Gerson Guerrero, was declared out of the Pinoy Power 3 main event.

This came after Guerrero failed his eye exam because of a detached retina.

Donaire consoled Guerrero during the Pinoy Power 3 press conference at the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

“I feel his pain... He's a true warrior,” said Donaire. “I know how he trained so hard... My heart aches for him.”

The WBA interim super flyweight titleholder will now defend his belt against another Mexican, Manuel “Chango” Vargas.

Donaire’s new opponent is expected to arrive in Las Vegas from Mexico on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Vargas was defeated by Filipino Donnie Nietes last September via split decision in Latin Fury 11. He failed to win Nietes’ World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight title in Nayarit, Mexico.

Vargas holds a record of 26 wins (with 11 knockouts), 4 losses and 1 draw while Donaire has a 22-1 (14 KOs) record.

Donaire earlier told ABS-CBN News that he is on a diet of soup with egg and vegetables so that he can make the weight during the weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Ready to rumble

The boxing event, which features Filipinos going against Latinos, is also called Latin Fury 13. It will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Ciso Morales will vie for the WBO bantamweight belt against titleholder Fernando Montiel of Mexico.

Gerry Peñalosa and Bernabe Concepcion, meantime, will take on Puerto Rican fighters. Peñalosa will fight Eric Morel while Conception will face Mario Santiago.

Peñalosa and Morel said during the press conference that they are ready to rumble.

“Handa siya, handa ako... Bugbugan na talaga,” said Peñalosa.

Morel, for his part, boasted, “I’ve got reach, speed, movement, power.”

In the undercard, Filipino Mark Melligen will fight Raymond Gatica.

Pinoy Power 3 will be aired live on ABS-CBN on Sunday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. Replays will be shown on the same day on Studio 23 at 8 p.m. and ABS-CBN’s “Sunday’s Best” at 10:30 p.m.

Pinoy Power 3 replays will also be shown on February 16 at 4 p.m. and February 18 at 9 p.m. on SkyCable TV’s Balls Channel.