WBC upholds Peñalosa protest

The World Boxing Council has upheld the protest filed by the manager of former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa who lost a controversial decision to Japan-born North Korean Masamori Tokuyama last Sept. 24 and directed that Peñalosa be given another crack at the world title.

In a resolution signed by WBC president Jose Sulaiman and Peñalosa’s manager, Rudy Salud, who is attending the WBC Convention in Pattaya, Thailand, Tokuyama was allowed to defend his title against Ryuko of Japan "or any other challenger" by March 2002.

Under the resolution, if Ryuko wins the title, he will have to stage a mandatory defense against Peñalosa within 90 days. However, should Tokuyama retain the crown then he would be allowed to fight "another challenger of his choice" by May 2002.

It was disclosed that Tokuyama, who is expected to beat Ryuko, will defend the title against Kawashima also of Japan in May in a fight that the promoters hope to stage in North Korea.