Peñalosa flattens Indon foe

CEBU, Philippines - Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Jr. passed what is by far the toughest test of his budding career in style, knocking out a very game Indonesian fighter Alex Buckie in round nine during the main event of ‘Dugong Kampeon V’ the other night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

It was a dramatic victory for Peñalosa, who nearly collapsed while he was going down in the ring. He was rushed to the hospital after the match due to severe asthma attack.

Buckie proved to be a tough customer as he avoided an early stoppage by the raging Peñalosa. He was lucky enough to have lasted nearly 10 rounds against Peñalosa, who gained prominence for demolishing his opponents within four rounds.

In the early round, the 22-year-old southpaw tried to land solid combinations but was parried by the Indonesian's clamshell defense.

Action heated up in the fourth round when Peñalosa connected sharp hooks to the body that sent Buckie down on both knees. The Indonesian immediately got up though and retaliated with his own combination that forced Peñalosa to back track.

In round five, international referee Danrex Tapdasan deducted a point to Buckie for punching while holding Peñalosa's neck. 

Fatigue factor somehow took its toll on Peñalosa in the seventh round as he circled around the ring while trying to tag the Indonesian with jabs.

The deciding moment came in the ninth round when Peñalosa landed a crushing left straight to the jaw that floored Buckie for good at the 2:32 mark. It was the ninth straight win via stoppage for the undefeated Peñalosa.

“It was really a test for him (Dodie Boy, Jr.),” said ring icon turned promoter Gerry Peñalosa, Dodie Boy’s uncle. “It was good that it lasted nine rounds to test his stamina.”

Gerry said the win bolstered his nephew's chance to be included in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley showdown on June 9 in Las Vegas. “A good win, I am positive that Dodie Jr.’s undercard fight in Las Vegas will push through,” he said.

In the supporting main event, Philippine featherweight champion Michael Fareñas failed to make an impression as he narrowly escaped with a controversial split decision victory against Negros Oriental's Jayson Egera.

Dodie Boy’s younger brother Dave Peñalosa, on the other hand, stole part of the limelight after he stopped Jumar Torreon at 1:54 mark of the second round. (FREEMAN)