Victory at Twilight
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 11 Oct 2010
It was twenty-one years ago when Gerry Pe?alosa made his professional debut in Mandaue City, Cebu, knocking out Fidel Jubay in five rounds. The next three years would see him go undefeated in twenty fights with a single draw before losing to Samuel Duran by split decision for the Philippine bantamweight title.
The first name fighter on his resume was former IBF flyweight champ Rolando Bohol. Pe?alosa beat Bohol by ten round unanimous decision at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in 1992. Bohol had lost his world title four years earlier.
Gerry would knock out another former world champ Rolando Pascua in eight rounds three years later. Pascua then was four years removed from losing his WBC lt.flyweight title.
Pe?alosa was 25 years old with a 35W (22KO?s) -1L-1D record when in 1997 he challenged WBC superflyweight champion Hiroshi Kawashima in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese then was widely considered the best boxer in the division. That night, Pe?alosa was simply better. It was a close and technically sound battle fought on a cold February night and Gerry emerged victorious by split decision.
He would have a memorable first title defense against Korean Seung-Koo Lee at the Mactan Air Base Grounds in Lapu-lapu City,Cebu. It was offered free to the public and a delirious Cebuano crowd witnessed Pe?alosa hammer a 9th round knockout win. He would then make his U.S. debut in Connecticut against Hipolito Saucedo.
Pe?alosa gave Saucedo a boxing lesson in a non-title fight shown on American cable television. He would defend his title successfully two more times against Young Joo-Cho (KO 10) and Joel Luna Zarate (TD 2). These were the prime years of Gerry Pe?alosa. His evasive head movement and counterpunching was breathtaking to watch. Together with Luisito Espinosa they carried the torch of Philippine boxing in the lean pre-Pacquiao years. It was unfortunate that both of them never got the worldwide popularity and recognition that they deserved.
On August 29, 1998, he would lose his title in to In-Joo Cho of South Korea by a disputed split decision in Seoul. He spent the entire fight chasing the Korean all over the ring but two judges had other thoughts. This was the start of Pe?alosa?s years of confinement in boxing purgatory. He would lose a rematch with Cho again by split decision less than two years later. In 2001, he lost in another attempt to reclaim his title against Masamori Tokuyama of Japan by unanimous decision in Tokyo and by split decision a year later. Again his opponents' jab and sprint tactics convinced the judges.
Pe?alosa announced that he was leaving the sport of boxing after the series of frustrating title losses. But after twenty one months, he was back. He would lose to Daniel Ponce de Leon on points in a WBO superbantamweight title fight three years later.
On August 11, 2007, more than ten years after beating Kawashima, Pe?alosa became a world champion again. At the Arco Arena in Sacramento dethroned the 25 year old WBO bantamweight titlist Jhonny Gonz?lez of Mexico with a single body shot in the seventh round. It was hard to believe that he was already 36 years old when he was back on top.
His win was part of the country's victory against Mexico - five out of six bouts ? in the Boxing ?World Cup? match-up.
The superbantamweight crown continued to elude him but he gave a courageous bloodied, battered but unbowed effort against the power-punching Juan Manuel Lopez in 2009.
If there is one thing Filipino boxers should learn from the 38 year old Pe?alosa, it is that he accumulated the ideas and teachings he got from the various trainers, nutritionists and conditioning coaches that he worked with. Knowledge is the reason for his longevity.
The fans who watched him through the years find it hard to believe that he is retiring.Penalosa told this writer October of last year that he wanted to retire a champion. But Penalosa would also lose to Eric Morel by split decision for the interim WBO bantamweight belt early this year. The jab and run tactic employed by Morel brought back a lot of painful memories.
Last weekend, Pe?alosa scored a 4th round TKO win over Yodsaenkeng Kietmangmee of Thailand in a fight held at the Zamboanga City Coliseum. He had stated that this will be the last fight of his 21 year career and he would give the proceeds to Z ?The Dream? Gorres to help him with his continuing medical expenses. Gorres has undergone two operations on his upper airway since he was sidelined by a career-ending brain injury when he fought Colombian Luis Melendez in Las Vegas in November 2009.
It is a quite ironic that a Penalosa vs Gorres match-up was being floated around last year, less than a month before Gorres' ill-fated fight against Luis Melendez. Penalosa at that time told me that he considers Gorres a friend and a good person. ?But, if it is ordered by the WBO, then I have no choice.? That "dream match-up" between two of the best ring technicians this country produced never happened.
?I want to help my friend Z.? Pe?alosa told me two weeks before the fight as to why he was fighting again. ?But this will be my last fight.? Both Penalosa and Gorres will always have a special place in the hearts of Pinoy boxing fans and in the pages of Philippine ring history.
There are reports he has been offered to fight again. Not surprising. He still has it. But if this is his last hurrah, Penalosa's charitable gesture makes him retire in style. We will remember him more than just the best technical boxer and best counter puncher in Philippine boxing history.
(File photo above: the Pe?alosas and the Gorreses)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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