Bravery and fortitude.
Rising boxing star Kenneth Llover may be facing off against a tough undefeated opponent in perhaps the biggest match of his young career, but his coach Carl Penalosa sees advantages for his ward.
Llover (17-0 win-loss record, with 12 knockouts,) will face Michael Angeletti (14-0, with eight KOs) in an eliminator for the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title next month in Japan.
It will be a clash of styles, as the aggressive Llover takes on the more methodical Angeletti in a 12-round war.
Penalosa told Philstar.com just two words to describe the advantage of the pride of General Trias, Cavite.
‘Tapang at tibay,’ he said Thursday.
Llover has won his previous five bouts via knockout, and Penalosa said they are already preparing to make it six.
‘Handang-handa na kami. Yung preparation namin, ginagawa namin lahat para sa laban na ito,’ Penalosa said.
The veteran coach, though, stressed that it will be a difficult matchup for them.
‘Yung kalaban namin, magaling. Mahirap kalabanin. Magalaw. Yung game plan namin, paano namin siya papasukin? Anong gagawin namin?’ he said.
He added that the difference in experience between the 23-year-old Llover and the 29-year-old American will be ‘big’.
‘Yan ang game plan namin. Suntukan talaga kami. Pasukin namin kami nang pasukin. Wala kaming ibang paraan.’
For his part, Llover said that he will go for broke against Angeletti.