PROFILE: Late-bloomer Michael Farenas keeps world title dream alive

 

Hard-hitting southpaw Michael Farenas is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for his upcoming super featherweight fight against unbeaten Jose Pedraza on November 14 (November 15 PHL time) in Puerto Rico.

 

Should Farenas come out on top, he will elevate himself as the No. 1 contender to Rances Barthelemy's IBF world super featherweight title.

 

Farenas wasted no time the moment he stepped inside the gym during his media day workout. The Sorsogon native stretched, did conditioning drills, then sparred four hard rounds with former OPBF featherweight title holder Jonel Alibio.

 

Following the sparring session, Farenas continued to tirelessly grind as he worked the pads with his trainer Carl Peñalosa. As soon as he took his gloves and handwraps off, Farenas proceeded outside the ring to do more strength and conditioning drills.

 

Farenas's hard work and dedication in training put fans and media in attendance in a state of awe. His motivation and willingness to absorb punishing tasks is fueled by his hunger to become a world champion.

 

To further boost his chance of winning, Farenas' acting manager Gerry Peñalosa availed the services of Filipino strength and conditioning coach Jay San Pedro — the guy they credit for putting Farenas in top shape in his last fight against Mark Davis.

 

 

 

Farenas grew up in Gubat, Sorsogon and did not lace them up until he was 15 — a relatively late start in the brutal sport of boxing. Farenas credits a cousin of his for teaching him the basics of fighting. It was also the same cousin who brought him to the barangay amateur bouts where he was scouted as a legitimate talent.

 

Soon, Farenas became part of the national team, but only spent three years in the program before turning professional in 2004. 

 

Even then, he would usually tune in to watch boxing on television to watch his favorite fighter: Gerry Peñalosa, the same man who acts as his mentor today.

 

Three years after entering the professional arena, Farenas made his United States boxing debut on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007.

 

The undercard appearance was Farenas' first chance to showcase his wares in front of a big audience, and he did not disappoint when he disposed of his Mexican opponent in just two rounds.

 

Two chances

 

Farenas had two chances to win a world title two years ago. In July 2012, Farenas headlined an event in Japan against WBA world super featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama. But an accidental headbutt ended the bout in a technical draw after three rounds of action.

 

In his next bout, Farenas fought Cuban superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa for the WBA interim world super featherweight title. Though he fell short when he lost by unanimous decision, Farenas nevertheless earned his due respect after a gritty performance that sent Gamboa to the canvass in the ninth round.

 

Farenas is riding on high, stopping his last five opponents since that last defeat. Farenas and his team knows too well that they're fighting a hometown fighter in Pedraza when they travel to Puerto Rico so they intend not to let the judges decide Farenas' fate.

 

"There's that worry about a [possible] hometown decision because it happens just about everywhere," said Peñalosa. "What I tell him is we don't want this fight to go to the judges, we have to win by knockout."

 

"From day one in training that's what we've been preparing for, to get a knockout. We don't want any controversy."

 

JM Siasat is a sports journalist based in Manila, Philippines. He can be reached at jmsiasat@ymail.com. Follow him on Twitter @jmsiasat