Peñalosa, Thai dispute WBC int'l crown tonite

Gerry Peñalosa isn't taking any chances against hard-hitting Pone Saengmorakot of Thailand in their 12-round fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International superflyweight title at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque tonight.

Peñalosa said he's never seen Saengmorakot in action, not even on tape, but knows he's a slugger who packs a wallop.

"Ang balita'y malakas siya sumuntok kaya dapat magingat ako," said Peñalosa who can't afford to take Saengmorakot lightly because too much is at stake. His brothers and trainers Dodie Boy and Carl, Jr. warned that Saengmorakot has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

The Thai was once ranked No. 6 by the WBC but has fallen to No. 13 after losing to Peñalosa's nemesis In Joo Cho in a title fight in Seoul last year. If he beats Peñalosa, Saengmorakot automatically reenters the top 10.

Against Cho, Saengmorakot was a dervish, attacking relentlessly and raining blows from all angles. A vicious combination to the head nearly floored Cho in the fourth round. But Saengmorakot got careless during a heated exchange and was knocked out by a single blow in the eighth. Peñalosa says he won't make the same mistake in the card dubbed "Winning Time at the Casino" and promoted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) for the benefit of disabled boxers. The fight will be telecast beginning at 9 p.m. by Viva Vintage over IBC-13.

President Estrada has been invited as special guest in the affair. Sen. Robert Jaworski, GAB chair Dominador Cepeda and Mayor Joey Marquez will award championship belts to winners of three title bouts.

Peñalosa's plan is to wait for Saengmorakot to move in and counter. He expects the Thai to initiate the fireworks. Once Saengmorakot charges in, Peñalosa will be waiting.

Will he go for a knockout? "Pag-dating ng pagkakataon, patutulugin ko siya," replied the San Carlos City southpaw.

Peñalosa, 28, has trained long and hard for Saengmorakot, his first opponent since losing a second split decision to Cho in a bid to regain the WBC crown in Seoul last January. For three months, he worked himself to the bone in Davao and General Santos City, logging at least 70 grueling rounds of sparring with featherweight Jaime Barcelona and lightweight Francis Velasquez. Peñalosa trained almost in seclusion - no fanfare, no frills.

Peñalosa is careful not to look beyond Saengmorakot. There is talk of a third title match against Cho, possibly in Manila. But he's not thinking of Cho at the moment. His focus is Saengmorakot. Peñalosa hasn't fought here for two years - his last Manila outing wound up a second round technical draw with Joel Luna Zarate of Mexico - so he's eager to put on a show for the fans.

Saengmorakot is no patsy. His records is 20-3 with eight knockouts, compared to Peñalosa's mark of 40-3-2, with 25 knockouts. The Thai turned pro in 1996, seven years after Peñalosa's debut, and won his first 17 fights. He's never lost to a Filipino and his victims include local boys Marlon Carillo, Rico Paquibot, Jimmy Cordero, Joven Jurda, Lee Escobido and Ricky Sales.

In the undercard, Juanito Rubillar takes on Do Yan Ra of South Korea for the vacant WBC International lightflyweight crown and Philippine superbantamweight champion Dino Olivetti stakes his crown against Edward Escriber.

Rubillar once held the WBC International strawweight title but relinquished it to challenge International Boxing Federation miniflyweight champion Zolani Petelo in England last year. Rubillar beat Petelo to a pulp but lost a disputed decision. He has since chalked up two wins to raise his record to 18-7-5, with five knockouts.

Olivetti is making his second defense of the Philippine title. He's fresh from three straight knockout wins, including a seventh round disposal of Manny Pacquiao's brother Bobby. Olivetti boasts a record of 22-7, with 12 knockouts. Escriber, the former Philippine bantamweight champion, is coming off back-to-back wins over Van Boy Sumugat and Fernando Montilla. His record is 17-4-2, with nine knockouts.

Boxing experts predict the main event and chief aperitifs won't last the distance. Expect the Casino Filipino Amphitheater to rock on Saturday.