FINAL DUEL AT SUNSET
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Apr 2009
Penalosa.
WBO Bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa?s career spans two decades. Together with Luisito Espinosa, they were the faces of Philippine pro boxing during the lean pre-Pacquiao years. Then and now, he remains under appreciated.
When he lost the WBC superflyweight title in South Korea to In Jo Cho in 1998, his career went into purgatory. A series of failed attempts to win back the title - In Jo Cho in 2000, Masamori Tokuyama in 2001 and 2002 - made him consider retirement.
After a two year hiatus, he came back. This lead to another failed attempt at a world title two years ago, this time against then WBO super bantamweight world titlist Daniel Ponce DeLeon. Yet, Gerry persisted. His victory against Jhonny Gonzales, courtesy of a paralyzing body blow, not only claimed the WBO Bantamweight title, but was also part of the 4-1 winning margin the Philippines scored against Mexico in their head to head ?Boxing World Cup? match-up last in August 2007.
Gerry will turn 37 this August. His love for the game is still there. He has fought 62 professional bouts (54W-6L - 2D, 36 KO's) and will not be earning Pacman-like millions at this stage of his career. But the chance to make history is a burning motivation.
This coming April 26, Manila time, Penalosa will attempt to win a third world title belt against the undefeated Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez, who holds the WBO super bantamweight title. Lopez (24W ? 0L, 22 KO?s) won the title by knocking out Daniel Ponce de Leon in a single round last June 2007. Penalosa will have to fight this one on Lopez? backyard of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Boxing pundits have talked about this fight with a sense of dread. Worst case scenario is that Penalosa will suffer the first knockout loss of his career. Another scenario is that he will have a heart breaking repeat of the Ponce De Leon fight. He will defend beautifully, slip and soak in punches and land clean counters but this will be unappreciated by the judges.
But there is always the third scenario. Like all aging champs before him, he will give one more great performance. We have seen this recently from Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley. The encyclopedia of boxing knowledge inside Gerry?s brain might just pull this one off.
Gerry?s brother Dodie was the first Filipino boxer to win two world titles in two different weight classes in 1987. Espinosa followed in 1995. Manny Pacquiao now has more belts than he can hold.
Hollywood has its share of movies about aging heroes going out in a heart-rending last stab at glory or redemption ? Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa, Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino and Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Real life is more complicated and often tragic. But Gerry Penalosa has the unshakable belief that he can ride into the Puerto Rican sunset with a third belt and bask in another glorious Philippine sunrise.
Boxing on the Net
One day before Penalosa's battle, the New Cebu Coliseum will host the Thriller in April fight card, headlined by Rolando Magbanua vs. Wanpadejseuk Sithsaithong.
This will be a historic day in Philippine boxing because you can view a fight live at the Cebu Coliseum for free via www.pinoyboxingtv.com and/or www.philboxingtv.com.
Preferred brower is Internet explorer.
1. type the above address
2. on the warning or info bar that appears above the page (below the header), right click and install or run active X.
3. wait for a few seconds , a Umedia installer will pop out.
4. just click ok or install
5. click the refresh button near the address bar (or F5 on the keyboard)
6. done
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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