For Peñalosa, it’s now or never

The moment of truth has come for Gerry Peñalosa.

Tonight, the San Carlos City southpaw battles World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama, a Tokyo-born third generation Korean —- in a do-or-die bid to recapture the crown at the 17,000-seat Yokohama Gym.

Peñalosa, 29, said he will retire from the ring if Tokuyama wins. But he’s confident of victory. Before leaving for Japan last Thursday, Peñalosa predicted he would knock out Tokuyama inside eight rounds.

Both fighters tipped the scales at exactly 115 lbs., the superflyweight limit in yesterday’s weigh-in at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Tokuyama, 27, is making his third defense of the 115-pound title he wrested from In Joo Cho on points last year. He was ordered by WBC president Jose Sulaiman to face Peñalosa, the No. 1 contender, in a mandatory defense.

Peñalosa’s manager Rudy Salud initially tendered a purse bid of $300,000 for the right to promote the fight in Manila. But Tokuyama’s manager Hideo Kanazawa appealed to Salud to accept his final offer of $320,000 — of which Peñalosa’s purse is $80,000 — since it was a matter of pride for the mandatory defense to be held in Japan. Tokuyama made his second defense in Seoul — where he knocked out Cho in a rematch last May — and Kanazawa said it is dishonorable for a Japanese world champion to stake his crown on foreign soil twice in a row.

Peñalosa said he’ll pressure Tokuyama from the start and avoid the risk of losing on a hometown decision.

"Bawat minuto ng laban, didikitan ko siya," said Peñalosa. "Hindi ako pipigil. Natuto na ako sa dalawa kong talo kay Cho — hindi na ‘yun mauulit." He referred to his two controversial losses by split decision to Cho —- first in losing the WBC crown in 1998 then in failing to regain it from the same Cho early last year.

Peñalosa said his advantage is experience. He’s fought in 48 fights, compared to Tokuyama’s 27. Peñalosa turned pro in 1989 and Tokuyama, five years later. Peñalosa’s record is 43-3-2, with 27 KOs, compared to Tokuyama’s 24-2-1, with six KOs.

Another advantage is he’s well-prepared for war, added Peñalosa. "Sigurista ako," he said. "Hindi ako lalaban kung hindi ako insayado. Trabaho ko ito —- boxing is my profession, my first love, kanya dapat palagi akong nasa-kondisyon."

Peñalosa asked his countrymen and fans to pray for his victoy — a victory that Salud said will be for all Filipinos.

Peñalosa’s traveling party in Japan includes his wife Goody who is six months pregnant with their second child, Salud and son Chito, Sen. Ramon Revilla, fight coordinator George Alcantara, and nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta and husband Olegario.

Larry O’Connell of England will referee the bout. O’Connell, 63, was the judge who scored a disputed 115-all draw in the first Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis world heavyweight title fight in 1999. He has traveled around the world to serve as referee or judge in over 50 championship bouts. O’Connell, a professional hand engraver of precious metals, was handpicked by Sulaiman to work the fight.

The three judges will be Chuck Williams, 67, Chuck Hassett, 65, and John Keane, 50. Curiously, Williams and Hassett were judges in the first Peñalosa-Cho fight in Seoul —- they both scored it for Cho while the third judge, Dalby Shirley, saw it for Peñalosa.

Williams of New Jersey has visited Manila thrice to judge in fights. Hassett of California was a judge in Peñalosa’s title defense against Seung Koo Lee in Mandaue in 1997. Keane, an Englishman, was a judge in the Oscar de la Hoya-Javier Castillejo fight in Las Vegas last June.

The fighters will use eight-ounce gloves. The three knockdown rule will be in effect with no standing eight-count. The bell will not save a fighter who has been floored except in the last round. If a fighter is unable to continue because of a cut inflicted by an accidental headbutt before the start of the fifth round, the bout will be declared a technical draw; if after the start of the fifth, it will be a technical decision for whomever is ahead on points.

In the undercard, Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation welterweight champion Rev Santillan of Iloilo takes on Japan-based Korean challenger Kenji Go in a scheduled 12-round bout.

Both fights will be shown on IBC-13 by Viva Sports TV starting at 6 tonight.