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NEWLY
crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight
champion Gerry Peñalosa wants to relish his latest
conquest before deciding on whether to retire or fight
once more.
In an
overseas interview, Peñalosa said he wants to savor his
title triumph with his wife, kids and the Filipino
people.
“Sobrang
sakripisyo ang ginawa ko para makuha itong title,
kaya pahinga din muna ako one week before ako mag-decide
ng next move ko,” said Peñalosa while
watching the tape of his fight inside his room at the
Vagabond Inn.
By
stopping the heavily favored Jhonny Gonzalez in their
12-round WBO title encounter, Peñalosa achieved history
apart from posting the most dramatic victory registered
by the Filipinos in the boxing World Cup over the
weekend.
Peñalosa,
however, admitted that it would still be very hard for
him to just walk away from the sport as champion, even
though most think that would be the most dignified way
to end one’s career.
And if
he decides to get one more fight, chances are he would
pursue a rematch with one-time tormentor Daniel Ponce de
Leon.
“If
ever lumaban ulit ako, definitely si Ponce de
Leon ang gusto ko. Siya na lang siguro ang
fighter na gusto ko pang makalaban lalo na tinalo
niya ang kababayan natin,” disclosed Peñalosa.
De Leon
scored the only win for Mexico in the World Cup
tournament but it turned out to be the most brutal win
after he stopped Filipino prospect Rey “Boom Boom”
Bautista in a single round.
“Bata
pa si “Boom Boom” at pwede pa siyang maging
world champion. Talagang naunahan lang siya ni
Ponce de Leon,” said Peñalosa.
Meanwhile, Golden Boy Promotions big boss and legendary
boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya praised the Filipino
fighters as well as the crowd that supported the Pinoy
sluggers.
At the
postfight press conference at the Arco Arena, de la Hoya
also consoled Bautista by stating his belief that the
Boholano native fighter is still a potential world
champion.
“I told
him he has nothing to be ashamed of. He lost to a very
good champion who hits like a mule. He is still young
and he will be champion when he wants to be a champion,”
said de la Hoya.
Some
two-and-a-half minutes after the opening bell, Ponce de
Leon, a battle-scarred warrior, finished off the
21-year-old Bautista with a left straight in a stunning
first-round ending.
“Sorry
sir, sorry talaga. Naunahan lang ako ni Ponce de
Leon talaga,” was what Bautista could only say
according to his manager Tony Aldeguer in a telephone
conversation moments after the disastrous ending.
In the
same press conference, Ponce de Leon revealed his
readiness to meet Peñalosa in a return engagement of
their controversial March encounter where the Mexican
scored a contentious 12-round unanimous verdict.
“I’d
give him a rematch. I thought it was a tough fight last
time, but I thought I won it clearly. So if he wants it
and it can be made, we’ll do it,” said Ponce de Leon.
The
successful Team Pilipinas are scheduled to arrive
tomorrow morning along with ALA Boxing Club manager
Michael Aldeguer.
American
trainer Freddie Roach will reportedly join the trip as
he is set to meet Filipino boxing sensation Manny
Pacquiao in a planned two-week training in Cebu.
In
winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight
crown back in February 1997 from Hiroshi Kawashima in
Tokyo,
Japan,
Peñalosa and older brother Dodie Boy became just the
first Filipino siblings to win world titles.
But
Saturday’s conquest cemented another memorable
achievement for Philippine boxing as the Peñalosa
brothers are the only Filipino fighters to win two world
crowns in two different divisions.
The
polio-stricken Dodie Boy is the first Filipino to become
dual world champion by first winning the vacant
International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight
crown via 12th-round TKO win over Satoshi Shingaki in
December 1983 in Osaka, Japan.
After
three successful defense of his IBF 108-lb crown, the
older Dodie Boy moved up in weight and captured the IBF
flyweight tiara behind enemy lines, stopping Korean Shin
Hi Sup in the fifth round in February 1987 in Inchon,
South Korea. |
