Gerry Penalosa did Philippines boxing proud Saturday in a different manner than Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire have been doing in recent years.
Penalosa (54-7-2) was stopped for the first time in his 63-fight career as the 36-year-old Filipino was unable to unseat dynamic WBO junior-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Trainer Freddie Roach persuaded Penalosa to retire in his corner at the end of the ninth round. Lopez 25-0, 23 knockouts) had landed 444 punches to Penalosa?s 99.
Yet Penalosa was still standing and was throwing power punches of his own at the end of the ninth, as he did at the end of nearly every round. He received a huge ovation afterward, waving to the adoring Puerto Rican crowd while Lopez was being interviewed on HBO.
?Several times he did get me, but it didn?t really sting me,? Lopez acknowledged. Obviously he stung Penalosa much more.
Fighting a much larger, younger, stronger man on his own turf, Penalosa displayed the fortitude for which Filipino fighters have been renowned for many years before Pacquiao led them to their unprecedented levels of supremacy, with Puerto Ricans among the most formidable opponents.
Penalosa more than held his own against Lopez in the first round, but after that the champion overwhelmed him. Penalosa made it difficult for Lopez to land cleanly to the face and head, but Gerry took a fearful beating to the body.
Penalosa?s only hope was to outlast Lopez, and he did everything possible to do it. Clearly it was not possible. ?He was just too strong,? Roach said. ?It was very difficult to stop the fight. I thought Gerry might turn it around and JuanMa might get tired, but he didn?t.?
Now that Filipinos aren?t always the lovable underdogs anymore, it didn?t seem so awful that Penalosa?s upset bid resulted in such a one-sided defeat. For a two-time former world champion near the end of an illustrious career, it was very valiant bid.
