By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Gerry Pe?alosa is looking to a late-round knockout win over Mexican German Meraz in an important 10-round tune-up fight as a stepping stone for his career- defining battle with WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez on April 25 in Puerto Rico.

Pe?alosa worked out at his gym in Mandaluyong City, along with flyweight champion Nonito Donaire and said Meraz reportedly has fast hands and is a good test for him.

The fights will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over Studio 23 beginning at 9 p.m., with a replay on Channel 2 on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Pe?alosa, who was leaving for Cebu, along with Donaire in time for a press-public workout at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday, said he needs a good workout against Meraz and won?t push the fight early.

He said the tune-up fight, arranged by North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol, who is promoting the Cebu card, along with Sammy Gello-ani, was meant to make him sweat and get into his rhythm after a fairly long layoff.

Pe?alosa revealed that both he and Donaire were in great shape and feeling good and he is keen on giving Cebu fight fans a good show after a five-year absence.

The 22-year-old Meraz has a record of 20-11-1 with 8 knockouts. He won his last two fights against Juan Chabelas by TKO. Meraz stopped his Mexican foe in five rounds on Nov. 8 and then stopped him in four rounds last Dec. 13.

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

In the first of three supporting main events, Rolando ?Smooth Operator? Magnabua who is undefeated with 11 wins, 6 by knockout faces a real test against Mexico?s Jose Angel ?Bocho? Cota.