Peñalosa takes pity on foe

World Boxing Council (WBC) International superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa hadn’t fought a Filipino since stopping Rolando Pascua in Cebu seven years ago. His previous 17 opponents were foreigners. So when he faced Joel Avila at the Makati Coliseum last weekend, Peñalosa felt something strange in his bones.

"Iba ang tingin ko sa kalaban kung kababayan," intimated Peñalosa who easily beat an overawed Avila on an eighth round technical decision. "Si Avila, kaawa-awa. Hindi level ang laban. Mabait sa akin. Habang niya akong inaakap, tinatawag niya akong idol. Sorry at hindi ko nailabas ‘yung suntok ko. Nawala tuloy ang aking killer’s instinct."

Avila clearly had no intention to mix it up, showing too much respect for Peñalosa. His goal was to survive the 12 rounds on his feet. Winning wasn’t on his mind – it showed in the way he fought or didn’t fight.

Peñalosa could’ve taken Avila out at any time and admitted holding back his punches. He took pity on Avila. Besides, Peñalosa wanted a workout. He hadn’t seen action since losing to Masamori Tokuyama in his second foiled bid to regain the WBC 115-pound crown in Yokohama last September.

In the fifth round, Peñalosa unloaded a thunderous combination to the body and head that sent Avila reeling. But he reined in, allowing his prey to escape. In the sixth, Peñalosa unleashed a devastating series of 1-2s – four blows in a row without reply – then retreated as Avila seemed ready to fall.

Peñalosa repeatedly glanced at his corner for instructions during the fight. His cornermen, brothers Carl, Jr. and Dodie Boy, kept telling him to ease up. They didn’t want an early ending like when Peñalosa blasted Keiji Yamaguchi in a single round last year. They wanted Peñalosa to sweat it out.

"Sobra ang respeto ni Avila sa akin," said Peñalosa. "Takot siyang matamaan ng counter. Tawag-ng-tawag sa akin ng idol. Kung from the start, binanatan ko, ’di siya tatagal. At least, nabanat ang katawan ko hanggang eighth round. Masaya na rin ako sa workout. Nag-ingat din ako at baka ma-ulo ako."

As it turned out, Avila was victimized by a wayward butt, not Peñalosa. Ringside physician Dr. Nasser Cruz ruled Avila unfit to continue after an accidental butt opened a deep two-inch cut over his right eye late in the eighth. Referee Bruce McTavish slapped a point deduction on Peñalosa for the butt and ordered the unfinished round to be scored as stipulated by WBC rules.

Judges Vic Rodriguez and Alex Villacampa saw it, 79-72, and Ferdinand Estrella, 79-71. If not for the point deduction, Peñalosa would’ve pitched a shutout.

Walking out of the coliseum, Avila’s trainer Leonardo (Mang Ambo) Pablo castigated his fighter. Pablo said he was disappointed at Avila for refusing to slug it out in the biggest fight of his life. For his part, Avila said he fought defensively because Peñalosa was too strong. Avila admitted he was staggered at least twice and would’ve gone down if Peñalosa followed up his attack.

Peñalosa said he hardly felt Avila’s power and recalled taking only one solid blow – a right straight in the fourth round.

After the fight, a throng of fans mobbed Peñalosa in his dressing room. Among the well-wishers were Kasuke Washio (who flew in from Japan just to watch the fight), the Matsuoka family, and pro cagers Bonel Balingit and Zaldy Realubit.

Last Thursday, Peñalosa applied for a renewal of his US visa at the Embassy. His visa is expected to be issued next week. He plans to leave for Los Angeles to train under Freddie Roach before the month ends. Peñalosa will join International Boxing Federation (IBF) superflyweight champion Manny Pacquiao in Roach’s gym.

Peñalosa’s manager Rudy Salud said Roach will focus on the San Carlos City southpaw’s footwork and teach him how to cut the ring off on opponents who like to hit and run.

There’s a possibility that WBC president Jose Sulaiman will order Tokuyama to make his next defense against Peñalosa assuming the Japanese of North Korean descent repulses challenger Kozuhiro Ryuko in Yokohama on March 23. If Ryuko wins, Sulaiman has assured Salud that Peñalosa will be his first challenger. In the event Peñalosa is authorized as the next challenger, he will train six weeks in Los Angeles before battling the champion – whoever he is – possibly in July.

If Tokuyama beats Ryuko, Sulaiman has tentatively agreed to sanction his next defense against Katsuhige Kawashima in North Korea. That will delay Peñalosa’s crack to September in which case Salud said, he will figure in a tune-up fight, possibly against Julio Coronel of Colombia or Pedro Alcazar of Panama or Trinidad Mendoza of Mexico, promoted by Don Chargin in Los Angeles to keep busy. Sulaiman’s tentative approval hinges on the availability of North Korea as a site – which is doubtful.

Peñalosa said he’s looking forward to the US trip. "Dapat masukat ko kung kaya kong talunin si Tokuyama," he continued. "Masakit kong narinig ‘yung mga fans nag-boo sa laban kay Avila. Hindi ko naman kasalanan ‘yon, depende sa kalaban din."

Peñalosa said he wants to find out if there’s still fire in his belly – the fire that he’ll need to regain the WBC title. The US campaign will determine if he still has what it takes to reign as world champion.

In the dressing room before climbing the ring to face Avila, Peñalosa’s two-year-old son Julio Cesar, or J Boy, asked his father why he had to fight. Peñalosa said it was his living – so he could buy his milk. J Boy said since milk isn’t too expensive, maybe, he could stop fighting. Peñalosa just smiled.

Despite his son’s pleading, Peñalosa said he’s not giving up the quest for a second world title. He’s fighting not only for his family’s future but also to bring honor and glory to his country.