Aurelio ‘Peppa’ Gonzalez (43-1-2, 28 KOs) is already preparing for the possible rematch against Petr Petrov (35-3-1, 20 KOs) when he returns to the ring in a fortnight.
In his last fight on February 17 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, Gonzalez showed why he’s currently the WBO flyweight champion.
Petrov had his way with Gonzalez in the first round, hitting him on all sides, and a left hook sent him to the canvas.
Still, Gonzalez got up and came back to win the 12-round fight, via split decision.
Petrov saw the defeat as a learning experience, and he’s vowed to give it his all against Gonzalez in the rematch.
“I was working hard and it did not go well for me the first time,” said Petrov to ESPN Deportes. “For me it is a lesson, because this is not the time to have a learning experience.
“The second time, I’ll be strong, and I will not have the choice to let go of my title, because I have my heart inside me. It will be a big fight, an important fight. After this fight it’s going to be a break, and then I’m going to come back stronger.”
And that break will be short: Gonzalez is planning to return to the ring on March 24 in Mestre, Argentina, as the main event of a Fox Sports presentation.
In a showdown for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title, world champion Omar ‘Caliente’ Narvaez (46-1-2, 23 KOs) will collide with tough Argentine Hector ‘Macho’ Figueroa (33-2-1, 23 KOs) at the JuanSantamaría Coliseum in Buenos Aires.
The fight is scheduled for 10 rounds, and will be contested for the WBC’s vacant 105-pound championship.
Narvaez is eager to notch his 46th career victory, and in the process earn a shot at an even bigger prize in the coming years.
“I am hoping to win the title for the rest of my career,” Narvaez said. “I am still fighting for titles, because I want to give the best boxing city, which in my opinion, is Buenos Aires, the chance to win the title. The elimination route only lasts for a few months. The difference between fights like this and the elimination route, is that when we win the fight like this, we know we are going to fight for the championship in the fall.”