13.08.07 – By Joshua “Travz” Travilla: The newly crowned WBO Bantamweight Champion Gerry “The Fearless” Peñalosa (52-6-2, 35 KOs), a former WBC Super Flyweight (1997) & WBF Super Flyweight (2004), has proved his critics wrong when he knocked out Jhonny Gonzales (34-6, 29 KOs) in the 7th round with a vicious hook to the ribs on Saturday night at the Arco Arena, in Sacramento, California.
Prior to the fight, however, boxing analysts considered it a 50-50 chance for Gerry Penalosa to win the bout, suggesting that he was too old. Up to the point of the knockout, Gonzales really dominated the fight using his height and reach advantage to throw combinations, effectively keeping Penalosa on the outside. Boxing aficionados in the arena, who watched the fight, presume that it was a fight that can make or break Penalosa considering his advanced age of 35. But you can never disregard the experience of a fighter.
As one of the known tacticians of the boxing world today, Penalosa, who possessed superior boxing skills, did not lose his composure thinking that it was the last fight of his career. Instead, he pressured Gonzales, cutting down the distance between the two fighters, while seeking that one knock out punch to unleash, which as it turned out, his only strategy he had left at that point in the fight due the amount of rounds he was behind.
As what the Filipinos said, every punch of their boxing fighters carries the 85 million of the population on his shoulder. That was how inspired they were to carry the challenge to bring home the bacon to their native land. But one thing that really inspires Penalosa was a promise to bring and wear the belt to his excited son. But no doubt, it was truly a drama of “The “Fearless” boxing career. At thirty-Five, he can now retire as Champion and an inspiration. Mabuhay ka Gerry!