SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- To each his own, as Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao apparently loves bedlam and mayhem on the run up of his big fights, two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa shuts himself off from the outside world to focus on the biggest fight of his distinguished career.
Penalosa will take on undefeated rising star Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez here tomorrow night in what could be a defining moment for both boxers. And Penalosa is taking no chances to be distracted from his tunnel vision prior to the fight.
"I don't answer any phone calls or texts," Penalosa told PhilBoxing.com as he was relaxing from his room at the Holiday Inn Hotel here. "My media friends from Philippines and the U.S. kept on calling and texting me and I haven't read Philboxing for a while now. I don't want to hear other people's opinions. I just want the pressure off my back."
Other than the official fight activities including this afternoon's weighin, Penalosa just kept to himself and his family where they hold regular prayers every night since they arrived last Monday in this popular resort country.
Penalosa's wife Goody, strolls her kids to the fine-sand beaches of Isla Verde in the afternoons. "I keep my mind away from boxing and that's what I want to do with the kids." Goody said. "I want them to relax and forget about boxing. But truth to tell I can hardly sleep at night now that the fight is very near."
Goody also said she and Penalosa hardly talk about boxing. "I just give him what he needs, foods, clothes, etc. but we don't talk about the fight at all."
Notes ... A group of about 10 Filipinos who work in a telecom company in Puerto Rico and have been staying here for a while including husband and wife Roland and Jed Manayon visited Penalosa in his hotel the other night and promised to be at the fight for a show of support. The wives of the telecom employees also promised Penalosa to cook Filipino foods that the boxer sorely missed.
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