WBC impasse is hurting Gerry’s bid

Gerry Peñalosa is raring to put the country back in the world boxing stage but the former Filipino champion is in a dilemma whether to step up his training for a crack at the crown or taper off as the World Boxing Council remains silent on its plan to stage the historic title clash between champion Masamori Tokuyama and In Joo Cho in North Korea.

Peñalosa’s manager lawyer Rudy Salud has urged WBC president Jose Sulaiman to decide on the matter the soonest possible time since the long delay has put his ward’s preparations on hold and the layoff might even take its toll on the Filipino fighter’s form.

Peñalosa, the WBC international super flyweight champion, is the official challenger to the mandatory defense of Tokuyama although he agreed to step aside to pave the way for the holding of the fight in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang that would mark a history-making event for pro boxing under the aegis of the WBC.

Salud said he needs a decision by the WBC "soonest" since the next fight of Peñalosa tentatively scheduled for May "is currently on hold until the issue is resolved" even as he expressed confidence that Sulaiman and the WBC will decide the case "under the rules and with utmost fairness."

Salud pointed out that the promoters of the Tokuyama-Cho fight "have had more than enough time" since the WBC convention last October "to settle the issue with the North Korean government" in keeping with an agreement to stage the fight in Pyongyang.

The delay, Salud stressed, is unfair since it only keeps Peñalosa in limbo, not knowing whether he is to fight Tokuyama next or that he needs an interim fight with another opponent to keep in shape.

He also called on Sulaiman to remind promoter Kusung Lee that they only agreed to step aside and give way to the Tokuyama-In Joo Cho bout because it is a historic undertaking.

Salud stressed that if they cannot arrange the Pyongyang site "then it is only fair that the mandatory defense of Tokuyama be held in May against the official challenger, Peñalosa" either in Japan where Tokuyama is based or the Philippines, with In Joo Cho getting a crack at the winner.

The Philippines was stripped of its last boxing crown when Malcolm Tunacao lost his WBC flyweight title to Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam last week.