Florida-based Robbie 'Bomber' Peden has returned
to Australia to accept a challenge from Sydney-based
WBF Asia Pacific light-welterweight boxing
champion, Ranee Ganoy of the Philippines.
Peden, idle since his losing his IBF world
super-featherweight title to Marco Antonio
Berrera in September 2005, meets Ganoy for
the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super-featherweight
championship on Friday, March 9, at Brisbane's
Chandler Arena.
The former world boxing champion returned
to hometown Brisbane last month from his base
in the United States to prepare for the fight.
He has campaigned in the United States upon
turning pro from a big amateur career: Peden
represented Australia at both Barcelona and
Atlanta Olympic Games. His pro record stands
at 25 wins (14 by KO), 3 losses.
By contrast, Ganoy went straight to the
pros without spending nursery time with the
amateurs in the bundoks of Cotabato in the
Philippines' southern island of Mindanao.
His pro record stands at 21 wins (18 by
KO), 10 losses, and 2 draws.
Three
weights down
The Peden fight brings Ranee down to junior-light,
as much as a stone lighter than some of his
recent welterweight opponents in Australia.
Peden is 33 years old, Ganoy is 27. Peden
stands at 5ft 8in, Ganoy at 5ft 6in. Both
have a formidable knockout record, and are
dangerous with both hands. On record, it looks
like a pretty even match.
What may well be a defining factor is fighting
fitness, or their boxing activity over the
past year.
Peden did not fight at all last year. He
fought twice in 2005, twice in 2004, twice
in 2003, and once in 2001. In his last fight,
Peden lost his world title to the Mexican
Barrera by unanimous decision.
…Ganoy fought three times last year,
five times in 2005 and eight times in 2004.
His only loss in 2005 was against world-rated
Australian lightweight champion Michael Katsidis
in Queensland, the new WBO champ.
''I feel confident about going into this
fight and winning,'' Ganoy said. ''And I want
to move on from here and really go for a world
championship this year.''
…Manager Dido Bohol said he already
has an offer for Ganoy to fight for big money
in the US if his charge beats Peden. ''Connections
in the US have indicated a strong interest
in seeing Ganoy fight there,'' Bohol said.
Peden is trained by Brian Peden (Brisbane)
and Roger Bloodworth (USA). He will be managed
in Australia by Stuart Duncan.
