Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. (6 ? 0), the young boxing prospect, is a promising fighter as he has shown in his short professional career. His father Dodie Boy Penalosa, Sr. was a former light flyweight and flyweight champion and his uncle Gerry Penalosa was a former super flyweight and bantamweight champion. Clearly, there’s no shortage of boxing talent in the Penalosa family.
In his most recent fight against Kong Kiatpracha Gym last month, Penalosa showed that with little polishing and right guidance he can follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.
Like every rising prospect, Penalosa has to work on basic skills.
1. Just like Pacquiao in his earlier days, Penalosa throws his left hand without disregard for following it up or setting it up with a jab. Against seasoned opponents (check Juan Manuel Marquez in his first fight with Pacquiao), Penalosa’s head-seeking style will become easy for opponents to adjust to.
2. The kid has power. No doubt about that as he has knocked out all six of his opponents. It can be argued that they were against cab drivers (as Floyd Jr. called his father), but when you’re bringing up a fighter slowly you have to build confidence.
3. Maybe he needs to lose a match to re-tool his game. Throw the jab more and learn from the pound-for-pound king. Develop a devastating right hook to keep from being too predictable with the left straight.
4. Stick with his father as trainer. The partnership is solid and Dodie Sr. has certainly earned credit as a trainer because of the magnificent work he?s done with Donaire. Until the day comes when he needs to hire Freddie Roach, Dodie Jr. is in good hands. Unlike other Filipino fighters like Marvin Sonsona, who let early success inflate his head, having Dodie Sr. as his trainer will keep the young Penalosa grounded.
