Mobile Home | Desktop Version




PUNCHER FROM THE PAST: CARL (Carlos) PENALOSA Snr.

By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Nov 2023

CARL (Carlos) PENALOSA Snr.
Born Philippines 2 March 1938
Fought from August 1962 to March 1967
Record 29 fights 11 wins 12 losses 6 draws although this record may be incomplete

Philippines lightweight and super lightweight champion
Beat: Peedro Adigue (future WBC super lightweight champion), Mario Rossito (WBA/WBC super lightweight title challenger), Rocky Alarde, Arthur Persley
Lost to: Adigue, Alarde, Persley, Stan Harrington, Rene Barrientos (future WBC super featherweight champion, Roberto Cruz (future WBA super lightweight champion,
Drew: Rossito, Alarde, Peter Cobblah, Cruz, Takeshi Fuji,
-Stablemate of Gabriel “Flash Elorde”

Penalosa fought at a time when Filipino boxing was at a low ebb and although not an outstanding Puncher from the Past his legacy as patriarch of an amazing boxing family earns him a place in this series. Two of Carl’s younger brothers did not turn pro but boxed for the Philippine Army team.

Three of his sons boxed professionally: Dodie, Gerry and Jonathan.

Diosdado (Dodie) Penalosa
1982 Philippines light flyweight champion
1983 OPBF light flyweight champion
1983-1986 inaugural IBF light flyweight champion*
1987 IBF flyweight champion*
First Filipino two-division champion*
*Dodie achieved all of this despite having a withered leg from polio as a child
Quote from Dodie’s manager
“Penalosa is a humble gladiator, and a testament to bravery, courage, and that nothing is impossible to those that believe and work hard to achieve their goals”.

Gerry Penalosa
2000 WBC International super flyweight champion
2002 NABF super flyweight champion
1997 First Filipino holder of a sanctioning body (WBC)super flyweight title
2007 WBO Bantamweight champion
Freddie Roach described Gerry as the best skilled Filipino boxer ever.

Jonathan Penalosa
1989 WBC International Champion
1992 WBA Flyweight title challenger

Dodie Boy Pumar Penalosa- son of Dodie Boy
Amateur record 27-0 2-time National Amateur Champion
Professional Record 2010 to 2016 19-0 so retired unbeaten as both an amateur and a pro

Dave Penalosa-Son of Dodie Boy
Currently active with a 17-1 record

Carl is one Puncher from the Past who whilst not achieving greatness as a fighter as a family patriarch has contributed a great deal to Filipino boxing. It has been a long journey from the days when he wore slippers on his hands because he could not afford punch mitts and whose training methods for his sons included punching wood and old tyres and tying them to trees for sit-up routines.

About the Author



Born in Scotland, Eric Armit started working with Boxing News magazine in the UK in the late 1960’s initially doing records for their Boxing News Annual and compiling World, European and Commonwealth ratings for the magazine. He wrote his first feature article for Boxing News in 1973 and wrote a “World Scene” weekly column for the magazine from the late 1970’s until 2004. Armit wrote a monthly column for Boxing Digest in the USA and contributed pieces to magazines in Mexico, Italy, Australia, Spain, Argentina and other countries. Armit now writes a Weekly Report covering every major fight around the world and a bi-weekly Snips & Snipes column plus occasional general interest articles with these being taken up by boxing sites around the world. He was a member of the inaugural WBC Ratings Committee and a technical advisor to the EBU Ratings Committee and was consulted by John McCain’s research team when they were drafting the Ali Act. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Commonwealth Boxing Council. Armit has been nominated to the International Boxing Hall of Fame the past two years (2019 and 2020) to which he said, “Being on the list is an unbelievably huge honour.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • JOSE RAMIREZ MAKES A WINNING STATEMENT IN GOLDN BOY DEBUT AGAINST RANCES BARTHELEMY IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN CROWD
    Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Boston Gets Back Versus Miami; Lakers Get One Against Denver
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Lady Knights, Orlando-A win Panabo United Football Club
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • 11-Year-Old Filipino-American Megan Paragua Makes History by Winning the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • WORLD POOL MASTERS 2024 | DEFENDING CHAMPION KO PIN YI KNOCKS OUT WNT NO.1 FRANCISCO SANCHEZ IN QUARTER-FINAL
    Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Men whom Manny retired
    By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Astrolabio waiting for fight date against Nakatani
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Saludar to fight for WBO Oriental title
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • Former Unified World Champion Marlon Tapales Looks Forward to His Homecoming Bout at Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila, Philippines
    Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • Mavs, Pacers Forge Ahead, 2-1, in Matches to Watch
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • Weights from Washington PA.
    Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender Junior Younan
    Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • WFM Megan Althea Obrero Paragua grabs solo lead in the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • WEIGHIN RESULTS FOR RAMIREZ VS. BARTHELEMY | ORTIZ JR. VS. DULORME DOUBLEHEADER
    Sat, 27 Apr 2024
  • "LET"S SETTLE" NINE PHILLY FIGHTERS ON ONE PHILLY CARD Saturday, April 27, Liacouras Center on the Campus of Temple!
    Sat, 27 Apr 2024