Sporting Chance

Lawyer Rudy Salud left for Bangkok last Friday night to negotiate a fight between World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior bantamweight champion Samson 3-K Battery of Thailand and Gerry Peñalosa.

Whether the bout will be held here or in Bangkok is up in the air. Salud couldn't care less -- he's that confident of Peñalosa beating Samson wherever.

Samson's business agent Panya Prachakorn earlier told Salud in an overseas phone conversation that the Thai hero would agree to face Peñalosa in Manila provided it is a non-title, overweight match. If Salud insists on a title match, Panya said Samson will fight only in Thailand.

Salud said Samson's conditions aren't predicated on a fear of losing the crown in Manila. Apparently, Samson has outgrown the junior bantamweight (the World Boxing Council or WBC calls it superflyweight) division and can no longer make the 115-pound limit. The word is in Samson's recent title defenses, he negotiated side contracts with challengers to fight at 118 pounds. Of course, that's highly irregular. But is the WBF known for its integrity in the first place?

In Thailand, Samson can get away with tampered scales to reflect 115, instead of 118 pounds. Anywhere else, he'll be stripped of the title for failing to make the limit. That's why Samson will agree to stake his crown only in Thailand.

Salud said he'd prefer for Samson to put his belt on the line against Peñalosa. "The WBF title may not be too prestigious but it's still a world title," explained Salud. "If Samson proposes to fight at 118, provided it's for the WBF title, we'll accept. And we'll agree to fight in Thailand."

It's Peñalosa's obsession to battle Samson who is tailor-made for his counterpunching style. Samson -- who recently changed his ring name to Toyota Thailand from 3-K Battery because of a sponsor switch -- is a plodder who never backs down from a toe-to-toe slugfest. He's no In Joo Cho, that's for sure. Samson's record is a frightening 34-0, with 31 knockouts.

For Salud, Samson is Peñalosa's acid test. If Peñalosa defeats Samson, he'll reestablish his stock in the ring. If he doesn't, it could mean the end of his career.

A few hours before Salud flew to Bangkok, he joined Peñalosa in a meeting with nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta at her Magallanes Village home Friday afternoon. Since following Dr. Orbeta's balanced diet three weeks ago, Peñalosa has lost six pounds -- from 132 to 126 -- without reducing his food intake. Peñalosa said the diet has made him stronger.

During the meeting, Dr. Orbeta told Peñalosa what and how much he should eat in training for a fight. She said his ideal fighting weight would be in the range of 115 to 120 pounds. So Peñalosa has the option of fighting as a junior bantamweight, bantamweight (118-pound limit) or even junior featherweight (122-pound limit).

Salud said the possible dates for the Samson fight are March 11 in Manila or March 31 in Bangkok.

If it's held in Manila, the bout will headline a blockbuster card to be promoted by the Rizal Youth Development Foundation (RYDF) at the Philsports Arena. RYDF Public Relations Officer Conrad Gwekoh said two WBF title fights are confirmed in the bill -- Joselito Rivera of Tarlac versus Kongthawat Oratai-Gym for the vacant WBF junior lightweight diadem and Orlando Villaflor of Catanduanes versus Dutch Boy Singhwangcha for the vacant WBF featherweight crown.

Rivera, 28, boasts a 17-4 record, with 13 knockouts, and is coming off three straight wins inside the distance. He's the reigning Philippine lightweight king. The unbeaten Villaflor, 19, has a 15-0-1 mark, with 10 stoppages. Six of his last seven fights ended via the short route.

Kongthawat, 30, knocked out Filipino Rico Siodora in a single round to win the WBF featherweight title here in 1998. He lost the crown to Nadel Hussein of Australia on points last year. Kongthawat's record is 21-7-2, with 13 knockouts.

Dutch Boy, 23, has a 20-2 record, with nine knockouts. His victims included Filipinos Rolando Pascua, Jovy Chan, Max Barro, Joel Junio, Lee Escobido, Baby Lorona, Pinoy Montejo, and Rodel Llanita. He is Samson's younger brother.

The RYDF's officers include Rizal Gov. Ito Ynares, former Quezon City Mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Public Estates Development Authority Administrator Frisco San Juan, Mrs. Cynthia Villar, Rep. Raul Victorino, Justice Rizalina Bonifacio-Vera, Provincial Auditor Rudy San Felipe, Fiscal Ed Fabian, and businessman P.L. Lim.

Salud was a ringside guest when Samson fought Korean challenger Lee Jin Ho in Bangkok yesterday. He is expected back today or tomorrow.