Gerry: I'm happy for Tuñacao

When Malcolm Tuñacao realized his dream of becoming a world champion Friday, Gerry Peñalosa was one of the happiest persons in the world.

"Masaya ako para sa kanya. Mabubuhay uli ang boksing sa Pilipinas dahil sa panalo niya. Sana magtagal siyang kampeon (I'm happy for him. Boxing in the country will be come back to life because of his win. I hope he lasts long as a champ)," said Peñalosa, a friend and former stablemate of Tuñacao.

Tuñacao was a young, promising fighter who grew up in the shadows of Peñalosa during the latter's reign as the World Boxing Council Superflyweight king.

On Friday, however, the Cebuano took centerstage when he stopped Medgoen Kratingdaing Gym in Udon Thani, Thailand to capture the WBC flyweight crown, making Tuñacao the country's only reigning world champion at the moment.

Tuñacao and his manager Wakee Salud, who also used to handle Peñalosa, have been invited by lawyer and boxing supporter Rudy Salud to be at ringside on Saturday when Peñalosa battles Thailand's Pone Saengmorakot at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater near the NAIA.

The fight, billed as 'Winning Time at the Casino,' marks Peñalosa's comeback since losing in his bid to regain the world title from Korea's In-joo Cho last January. He and the Thai will slug it out for the WBC International superflyweight title.

"Ibibigay ko ang lahat ng kaya ko. Gusto ko maging maganda ang showing ko," the former world titlist told the PSA Sports Forum at the Holiday Inn Manila yesterday.

Appearing in the weekly program sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa Color and McDonald's, both Peñalosa and Saengmorakot said they are in tip-top shape after preparing very hard for the bout which is so vital to their careers.

Saengmorakot, a known slugger who has lost only twice in 23 fights, one of them against Cho, described Peñalosa's style as similar to the Korean's, although the Filipino champ, he said, is shorter.

Meanwhile, a press public preview involving the fighters will be held at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater at 1 p.m. today.