Gerry’s sacrifice for future

It’s been close to four months since World Boxing Council (WBC) international and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa left Manila to train at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

Being away from his wife Goody and their two children–Julio Cesar or JC Boy, 3, and eight-month-old Julienne Gayle–is tearing Peñalosa apart. But he realizes the sacrifice is for their future.

Every day, Peñalosa phones home. He constantly sends text messages to his wife, reassuring her of his love and asking her to be patient. When Peñalosa calls, he talks to JC Boy–sometimes longer than his wife–and they both end up crying.

"Sabi ni Gerry, kaya niya yung pagod at hirap sa training but hindi niya kaya yung being separated from his family so long," sighed Goody in a STAR interview yesterday. "Malungkot na malungkot siya. Wala siyang kasama sa hotel. Siya lang ang nagluluto at naglalaba. But I think it’s for the better."

Goody said her husband doesn’t sacrifice as much when he trains here. "Hindi siya nakakatikim ng hirap dito," she explained. "May sasakyan siya. May libangan. Kaya, parang hindi na siya gutom paglaban niya. In the States, he has to work extra hard because he’s on his own."

Peñalosa’s brother Carlos Jr. or Erbing flew to the US last May for the fight against Oscar Andrade in Oroville. The brothers shared a room which they paid $500 a month for. But it took 1 1/2 hours of six bus rides and a 30-minute walk to go to the gym from the boarding house where they stayed. So when Erbing returned to Manila after his US visa expired two weeks ago, Peñalosa checked in at the Vagabond Hotel in Hollywood, only a few meters away from Roach’s facility. Peñalosa’s manager Rudy Salud pays $76 a day for the hotel room and it’s worth the cost because of the proximity to where he works out.

Goody said about a month ago, Peñalosa pleaded to come home, even for a week. She consulted Salud on what to do and they agreed to advice Peñalosa to stay focused in the US.

"Kung umuwi siya, we’ll be happy for one or maybe two weeks, then what?" she said. "Mabuti na ang mahirap ngayon for a secure future later. Kaunting tiis na lang."

Goody said her husband is optimistic of regaining the crown. "Gerry’s very positive," she continued. "He wants to win the title again. He feels it is his duty to the country. When he found out that there were two candidates as his next opponent, sabi niya, kahit dalawa ang kalaban, okay lang. Sabay silang pahihirapan niya. That’s how confident he is because of his rigid training."

Peñalosa is set to stake his WBC International crown against Seiji Tanaka of Japan in Honolulu on Aug. 20. It will be his final tune-up fight before challenging Masamori Tokuyama for the WBC title in Osaka on Nov. 8. Peñalosa outpointed Andrade in his first tune-up last May.

Goody will leave Manila on Aug. 13 to join Peñalosa in Honolulu. She will be accompanied by International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee. Pacquiao will face former World Boxing Association (WBA) superbantamweight titleholder Jesus Salud, born in Sinait and raised in Hawaii, in a three-round exhibition in the undercard of the Peñalosa-Tanaka mainer.

Salud will leave here on Aug. 16 to be at ringside for the fight.

Goody said she’s counting the days before she is reunited with her husband.

"Sa mga text messages ni Gerry, palagi niyang sinasabi na this is for our kids, for our future, that once he regains the title, our future is secure at wala na kaming problema," she said.

Peñalosa never fails to send gifts to his family during his absence. Once, he sent a package of toys for his children through the mails. Then, when his brother came home, he sent presents through him. It’s his way of reminding his wife and children how much he misses them.

Peñalosa, who turns 30 next week, won the WBC crown in 1997 then lost it in his fourth defense to In Joo Cho on a disputed split decision a year later. In January 2000, Peñalosa tried to regain the crown from Cho but lost on another controversial split decision in Seoul. Cho was eventually dethroned by Tokuyama. Peñalosa fought Tokuyama for the crown in Yokohama last September but was beaten on points. Salud protested the outcome, citing referee Larry O’Connell’s failure to penalize Tokuyama for repeated headbutting which opened six cuts on Peñalosa’s face. WBC president Jose Sulaiman upheld Salud’s protest, reinstated Peñalosa as the No. 1 contender, and ordered a rematch.

Tanaka, 25, has a record of 11-4-3, with two knockouts. He’s coming off a fifth round stoppage of Prabpram Khlongphajon in Yokohama last March. He has met only one Filipino in his career so far–Ricky Protacio who lost on points in Osaka in December 2000.

Tanaka was only 12 years old when Peñalosa made his pro debut in 1989. Peñalosa has compiled a record of 45-4-2, with 27 knockouts. Among his victims were Tanaka’s countrymen Hiroshi Kawashima and Keiji Yamaguchi.