By Ronnie Nathanielsz

After some uncertainty over who he will fight and when, former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa says his protégé Michael Farenas will fight undefeated Jose “Sniper” Pedraza for the IBF super featherweight No.1 ranking which will put the winner in line for a mandatory title shot.

Penalosa told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports that the fight is “a done deal” after successful negotiations for the fight to take place in Caguas, Puerto Rico on November 14.

 

Ranked No. 2 by the BF, the hard-hitting southpaw Farenas will get a mandatory crack at the title against the winner of the battle between champion Rances  Bartheley against No, 3 ranked David Saucedo of Argentina who face each other at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut on Saturday should Farenas beat Pedraza.

 

IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker had initially informed Penalosa that Farenas would have to face Saucedo and later said he would be required to fight Diego Magdaleno.

 

But Magdaleno’s camp  pulled out of the purse bid for a Farenas fight scheduled last September 16 after which Tucker told Penalosa that Farenas would have to fight the 25 year old Puerto Rican, Pedroza who has an impressive record of 18-0 with 12 knockouts and is ranked  No. 6 by the IBF.

 

Pedraza is the reigning International Boxing Organization champion after he won the title by a twelve round unanimous decision over Alberto Garza last March 22 and successfully defended the title with a rousing 6th round stoppage of Juan Carlos Martinez who was reportedly outclassed on ESPN Friday Night Fights last August 15 in a scheduled ten round bout.

 

In a post fight interview Pedraza said he wanted to “let the whole boxing world know that I am for real. I am ready to fight any of the champions in my weight class. I know I have the talent to bring a world title back to my people of Puerto Rico.”

 

But before Pedraza can earn a world title shot he has to get past the tough Farenas who is himself aching for a crack at the world title and  has a record of 39-4-4 with 31 knockouts.

 

Farenas is coming off an 8th round TKO victory over previously unbeaten American Mark ”Too Sharp”  Davis who was battered  by Farenas before  referee Steve Smoger called a halt at :59 seconds of the eighth round at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut last July 2.