WORLD Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa is eager to step into the ring to take on Mexican German Meraz in a crucial 10-round tune-up fight in preparation for his battle with WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez on April 25 in Puerto Rico.

Pe?alosa, who arrived from his training camp in Baguio City, where he prepared alongside flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, said he was in great shape and feeling good, as he looked forward to a hard fight against Meraz as a stepping stone to what may well be the biggest fight of his life.

He told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he would wind down training for the Meraz fight at Rex ?Wakee? Salud?s gym in Cebu City in preparation for the Feb. 21 card at the Cebu Coliseum, promoted by Sammy Gello-ani and Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol.

Pe?alosa, who leaves for Cebu on Monday, said he would be joined in training by Donaire.

The 22-year-old Meraz has a record of 20-11-1, with 8 knockouts and is coming off back-to-back TKO wins over Juan Chabelas, whom he first stopped in five rounds on Nov. 8, and then stopped again in four rounds last Dec. 13.

The veteran Pe?alosa boasts of a record of 53-6-2, 36 KOs and as always, has trained hard for this fight, realizing how important it is in terms of his big title fight against the sensational Puerto Rican Lopez.

In the first of three supporting main events, Rolando Magbanua, who is undefeated with 11 wins, 6 by knockout, clashes with Mexico?s Jose Angel ?Bocho? Cota, who has a record of 6 knockouts in 8 wins, with 3 defeats for the WBO Oriental bantamweight interim title.

An exciting showdown for the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight championship between southpaws Jason Egera (10-2, 5 KOs) and undefeated prospect Jundy Maraon (12-0-1, 9 KOs) is expected to spice up the fight card.

Egera is coming off a 7th-round TKO victory over Pitchitchok Singmanassak last July 8 while the 23-year-old Maraon who, like Magbanua, is from the ?Braveheart? boxing stable of North Cotabato Vice Gov. Pi?ol scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Ruben Santillanosa after dropping him in the very first round with a stunning left. Santillanosa has campaigned extensively in Australia. Ronnie Nathanielsz