Gerry Peñalosa gives ALA one snappy salute

CEBU, Philippines —  Under the stewardship of its founder Antonio “Bidoy” Lopez Aldeguer, ALA Gym’s primordial concern is to provide its boxers a solid foundation, from which they will build their lives.

Cebu’s fabled stable makes sure that its fighters will be armed with the right values that will mold them not only as champions but also as respectable individuals.

Gerry Peñalosa is among those who were greatly influenced by ALA’s principles that helped guide him to the correct pathway in life.

“ALA has helped me a lot not only in my boxing career, but also in my whole being,” said Peñalosa.

Together with Edito Villamor, Andy Tabanas, Peter Cuizon, and Rey Cosep among others, Peñalosa was one of the original ALA Boys that made waves in the Philippine boxing scene in the mid80s.

On May 20, 1989, Peñalosa turned pro, knocking out Fidel Jubay in his debut in Mandaue City.

In no time, Peñalosa carved his own niche as one of the most exciting and smartest Pinoy ring gladiators of all time.

Though no longer fighting under ALA’s banner in the later part of his pro career, the set of skills and morals learned by Peñalosa from the well-known sweatshop have certainly brought him to greater heights.

Peñalosa reached the zenith of his glory when he courageously battled his way to a split decision victory over the fancied Japanese champion Hiroshi Kawashima to clinch the World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight title on February 20, 1997 in Kokugikan, Japan.

Peñalosa kept his belt twice with knockout victories over Koreans Seung Koo Lee Young Joo Cho. In his third defense, he barely retained his crown after fighting to a draw with the tough Mexican Joel Luna Zarate on April 25, 1998 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Peñalosa eventually surrendered his throne after being beaten by Korean In Joo Cho by split decision on August 29, 1998 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. He tried to reclaim his lost glory but bowed anew to Cho a day after New Year’s Day in 2000 at the Sheraton Walker Hill in Seoul. He attempted to snatch back his WBC super fly belt twice but lost on both occasions to Japan’s Masamori Tokuyama, the last was in 2002 that forced him to a temporary retirement.

Peñalosa came out of a two-year layoff in 2004 and was sharp as ever. Just  five months after losing by decision to Juan Ponce de Leon in their WBO super bantamweight championship bout, he knocked out Jhonny Gonzales to grab the WBO bantamweight strap and become a two-division world champion. In his last world title show though, he was defeated by Mexico’s Eric Morel by split decision on February 13, 2010 in Las Vegas.

Feeling that he has had already done enough,  Peñalosa hung up his gloves for good in 2010 with a record of 55 wins, 37 via stoppage, against eight losses and two draws.

Now a successful businessman and an established promoter, the 49-year-old Peñalosa said his heart was broken upon learning that the ALA Gym has closed shop after 35 glorious years.

“I’m very sad that the ALA Gym has closed because they could have helped a lot of poor and aspiring boxers,” Peñalosa lamented.

Nevertheless, Peñalosa opted to look back at all the wonderful years he had with the ALA Gym replete with memories he will cherish for the rest of his life.

“I learned many valuable lessons in life with ALA, foremost among them are discipline and respect,” shared

Peñalosa. “With ALA’s support, I became a champion at the same time graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of Cebu. ALA always looks for your future.  I will never forget one moment when he asked me, ‘what you gonna do after boxing?’. Whatever I have achieved now, I owe it to ALA. Salute!”