A Warrior’s Last Hurrah
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 17 Mar 2007
Gerry Pe?alosa’s skills set him apart from most Filipino pugilists. He is not a Pier 6 devil-may-care brawler but a smooth southpaw stylist gifted with hand speed and he could bob and weave and slip punches with the greatest of ease.
This rare talent carried him to the top of the 115 lb. division in 1997, winning the WBC superflyweight championship from Hiroshi Kawashima in a thrilling split decision win in Tokyo, Japan.
Ten years later and seven pounds heavier, Gerry is back once again on center stage this time at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. His opponent, the defending champ Daniel Ponce de Leon is eight years younger and turned pro a few months before Pe?alosa lost in his bid to reclaim the WBC 115 lb. title from Masamori Tokuyama.
Ponce De Leon has a record of 30 wins (28 ko's) and 1 loss. He gained some measure of notoriety with his one-punch, 52 second KO of Thai challenger Sood Looknongyangtoy. This was the second of three successful defenses of his WBO superbantamweight title.
Another familiar name in De Leon’s resume is Emmanuel Lucero, the same guy flattened by Manny Pacquiao in 2003. Lucero lost to De Leon also by 3rd round KO in 2004.
He has shown he can hit. But can he hit Gerry?
Pe?alosa, whose record now is 51W (34 ko's) L5 D2, will certainly call upon his vast ring experience. Since his comeback, he has shown that he still has what it takes to make crude brawlers like Dario Azuaga and Mauricio Martinez look amateurish. He has labeled De Leon as “ordinary”. But is he really? Gerry will have to use his vast defensive knowledge to avoid being tagged and caught against the ropes early in the fight.
Ponce De Leon is not in the mold of Tokuyama or InJoo Cho, tall, lanky and would rather jab and run than mix it up. This type of style gave Pe?alosa trouble. When a boxer stands in front of him or goes forward that is when Gerry is at his best.
The defending champ will obviously be the “bigger” man because he has stayed in this weight division longer than Pe?alosa. He will try to overpower the challenger, as Tomas Rojas almost did last year.
The clock is ticking and when the bell tolls, will the old warrior give us one more reason to cheer?
Win or lose, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gerry Pe?alosa for the memories of the battles he fought. Good luck and the prayers and hopes of a nation will be with him once he wages his final battle.
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