AGELESS and FEARLESS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 Apr 2008
It was a mismatch. WBO Bantamweight titlist Gerry Penalosa?s knock out of Thai challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin was something to be expected. I was even surprised the fight lasted eight rounds. He knocked out the same Thai in six rounds almost eight years ago. If it wasn?t for Penalosa?s magnificent boxing skills the fight would have been totally boring.
But Gerry is still one of the leading practitioners of the sweet science. It is hard to believe he is 35 years old. I watch him because I know it may take a long while before we see another Filipino with his technical ability. I watch him because at his age he is racing against time. He is also racing for another crack at WBO superbantamweight titlist Daniel Ponce de Leon.
Gerry feels he won the first time. It was a difficult fight for him. De Leon?s size and power was difficult to overcome. Penalosa does have the skill and artistry to make his opponent miss by a few centimetres just by slightly tilting his head. Unfortunately fight judges don?t give points for defense. Just ask Z Gorres. Just ask Juan Manuel Marquez.
Gerry turned pro in 1989. His fight record is now 53 wins (with 36 KOs) 6 loses with 2 draws. He has never been knocked out. It takes a lot of guts to step into the ring again with one of boxing?s most feared punchers today. De Leon?s fight record of 34 wins (30 KOs) 1 loss and his shocking one round blowout of Rey Bautista last year speaks for itself. Gerry has shown he can survive the Mexican?s blows. He has shown he can make him miss and he can counterpunch effectively. But he will need to do more to grab the judges? attention if ever they meet again. De Leon has a scheduled fight this June against Juan Manuel Lopez.
The superbantamweight division does present Penalosa with a lot of name fighters and potential big money match-ups. Israel Vasquez and Rafael Marquez did engage recently in a brutal rubber match. If Penalosa decides to remain a bantamweight, the boxers ranked above him by Ring magazine - Hozumi Hasegawa, Veerapol Sahaprom, Wladimir Sidorenko and Silence Mbuza - are
not really big names in the U.S. market. Gerry was not a pay per view attraction when he was WBC 115 champ despite his awesome skills. He needs another big name fighter this time to attract the American audience. There is the much younger Abner Mares to think about but that fight is too far off and might never happen.
Considering the marketability of the Mexico vs. Philippines rivalry, a rematch with Ponce De Leon in the U.S. would be Gerry?s most workable option.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
Fri, 05 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
Fri, 05 Sep 2025THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
Fri, 05 Sep 2025GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Fri, 05 Sep 2025DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 05 Sep 2025India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Sep 2025TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
Thu, 04 Sep 2025150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Sep 2025Miguel Berchelt to Return in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; WBC Praises City’s Commitment
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 04 Sep 2025Spicing up “Thrilla” card
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 04 Sep 2025SATURDAY: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina to be Broadcast LIVE on ESPN Deportes in the United States
Thu, 04 Sep 2025