Mandaue City: Former World Boxing Council super-flyweight king Gerry Penalosa can still dish out almost anything inside the ring–including faking a shot–as he easily dismantled no-hoper Samingkao Chutipol from Thailand in less than two rounds of their scheduled 10-rounder here Sunday evening on the “Out for Blood” card. Penalosa, who spent almost 10 months in preparation for this comeback fight, was all business from the opening bell, chasing the bewildered and clearly intimidated Thai fighter with solid body shots that had the visitor on his bicycle. In the second frame, Penalosa unloaded bombs to the body, sending the Thai on all fours twice on the canvas as referee Teddy Alivio took up the count. Penalosa, sensing a frightened man put in front of him, then faked a shot to the body again, this time sending the Thai once more to the canvas even without actually absorbing a blow. The crowd booed. The 32-year-old former champ, however, made a good account of himself in this very short fight, displaying his usual quickness and power shots, and the apparent hunger was evident once more. “We were surprised it had to end that way. But I was really prepared whatever he could have brought to the table,” Peñalosa said at the post-fight interview. The victory, which was his first since his last fight on December 20, 2002, improved the southpaw’s win-loss-draw record to 47-5-2, 32 knockouts. In the co-feature, former WBC flyweight boss Malcolm Tunacao figured in a stretched out 10-round affair against Mindanao’s Bernard Oclus, prevailing on a sleeper unanimous decision. Tunacao, one of local boxing’s most gifted technicians, was gasping for breath early in the fight, opting to land choice shots which carried him through a 100-90, 97-94, 96-94 verdict. “I’m sorry for this so-so performance tonight. I can do better. I only had three weeks to prepare for this fight,” revealed Tunacao at ringside. The win improved the southpaw Tunacao’s ledger to 16-1-2, 11 knockouts. In the other bouts, Ronnie Canete schooled Eric Rapada by split decision; Richard Garcia prevailed over Aljun Salugaol by split decision; Robert Lerio decisioned Danilo Cabardo; Alex “Bomber” Aroy TKO’d Rogelio Bardon in the third round; while Michael Farinas and Octavio Aleonar figured in a second-round technical draw.
