TWO BROTHERS, TWICE THE WORRY
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Sep 2011
Dave Pe?alosa will make his debut as professional boxer roughly an hour before his elder brother, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa,Jr starts his seventh pro bout. Both have won medals as amateur fighters, but professional prizefighting, as everyone knows, is a totally different world.
This has doubled the worries of their father and trainer,Diosdado ?Dodie Boy? Pe?alosa. The former two division world champion knows how rough it can get; having to overcome his handicap ? a polio stricken leg as well as having to recover from loses and endure fighting on the road.
?Yes, I am very worried.? Dodie,Sr told this writer during the pre-fight press conference for their Hoops Dome fight card this Saturday. ?I spend nights worrying, thinking about their game plan.I also have to think about my other boxers. Michael Fare?as is also fighting on the same night. But I am confident that I taught them what I know. Now, it?s up to them.?
"Tinuod, Nabalaka gyud ko pag-ayo. Mag hinuktok ko sa gabi-i, mag-hunahuna ug plano sa away. Mag-hunahuna pud ko sa mga uban nga boxer nako, kang Michael Farenas.Pero kumpiyansa kaayo ko nila, ako na silang natudluan sa akong nahibaw-an, sila na mag-igo ig katkat nila sa ring."
Dave has been thinking about the pressure of living up to the family name for a long time. ?Dugay na ko nag huna-huna sa pressure.But the pressure will always be there, As long as they are there backing me up. I am confident.?
Dave will make his pro debut in a four rounder against John Edu Torbiso, who fought on GMA TV?s reality boxing series ?Buhay Boksingero?.Dave wants to continue the family tradition of winning world titles. His uncle and fight promoter Gerry Pe?alosa is also a two division champion.
The unbeaten Dodie Boy,Jr has stopped all six of his opponents and will be looking for another abbreviated win against Donriel Marcos in their eight round battle.
Marcos has promised to give a good fight. Dodie Boy Jr on the other hand, intends to give a better performance compared to his last fight, a third round TKO win against Thailand?s Kong Kiatpracha Gym.
?Lahi akong training karon. Sa una, na-a man gud koy cut, so dili 100 percent akong training ug sparring. Karun sakto na akong training.? Dodie Boy,Jr said, referring to the cut he suffered against Jeffrey Jimenez in June which reopened while he was training for the Thailander.
(My training now is different, it is better. I had a cut before so I could not train and spar properly, I could not give it 100 percent.Now I am satisfied that I have trained hard enough.)
Michael Fare?as will challenge Edgar Gabejan for the Philippine featherweight championship. Fare?as needs to win impressively because he is penned to fight in Las Vegas one day before Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III. Fare?as is confident about his chances of taking the title.
Also attending the press conference were Gadwin Tubigon,who will face Eden Sonsona in a ten rounder,trainer and former fighter Andy Tabanas and young prospect Anthony Sabalde.
Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Harry Radaza was a special guest during the presscon. He spoke about boxing being part of sports tourism in Cebu. He hopes fans will flock to the Hoops Dome and that boxing promoters will like the venue for their future promotions. Promoter Gerry Pe?alosa, whose outfit GerryPens Promotions made a partnership with GMA television, is confident that the Cebu boxing fans will watch the fights and continue to support the fight game.
The weigh-in will be at the Games and Amusements Board(GAB-Cebu) office Friday noon and fight time at the Lapu-lapu City Hoops Dome this Saturday is at 6 PM.
(Top photo - Dave (left) with brother Dodie Boy,Jr before the start of the presscon)
(Photo standing left to right- Gerry Penalosa, Councilor Harry Radaza, Michael Farenas, Dodie,Jr and Dave Penalosa during the presscon held at the Sports Exchange Bar and Grill, Mango Ave., Cebu City )
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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