Peñalosa foe no easy prey

World Boxing Council (WBC) International superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa is in for trouble against tough Thai challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin. But Peñalosa’s manager Rudy Salud won’t have it any other way.

Salud refuses to bring in patsies and tomato cans for Peñalosa. That’s his policy. If Peñalosa deserves another crack at the WBC crown, he’s got to earn it the hard way.

Because Peñalosa is only a win away from a title shot, he can’t afford to lose to Ratanachai in their scheduled 12-round bout at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque on Nov. 25.

If he wins, Peñalosa will challenge the winner of the WBC 115-pound title bout between defending champion Masamori Tokuyama and Akihiko Nago in Osaka on Dec. 11. A mandatory defense will fall due early next year and Peñalosa, as the No. 1 contender, is next in line for a shot at the crown that was once his.

Ratanachai, 29, boasts a 38-4 record, with 27 knockouts. He turned pro in 1992–three years after Peñalosa’s debut–and has made it a habit to embarrass Filipinos in the ring. Among his knockout victims were Filipinos Marlon Carillo, Marcial Pelicano, Edgar Maghanoy, Joeboy Gaabon, Leon Ramirez, Henry Limpin, Aljon Corporal, Joel Junio, and Benjie Concepcion. Filipinos who survived the distance but lost to Ratanachai on points were Fernando Baja, Julius Tarona, and Max Barro.

The Thai has never lost to a Filipino. His four defeats were inflicted by countryman Khonphayak Chareon, Abdi Pohan, Ricky Matulessi, and Marc (Too Sharp) Johnson.

Curiously, Ratanachai’s manager is a Filipino, Honolulu-based Leon Panoncillo.

A former two-time International Boxing Federation (IBF) Intercontinental titlist, Ratanachai is a southpaw like Peñalosa. He fought Johnson for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight crown at the MCI Center in Washington, DC, last year and lost on points. The decision wasn’t close. Judge Valerie Dorset scored it 118-109, Paul Herman 117-110, and Paul Weitzel 116-110. But Ratanachai was never in danger of falling despite Johnson’s sledgehammer blows. The Thai proved his durability in the fight.

Since the loss to Johnson, Ratanachai has racked up three straight wins.

Ratanachai’s brother Ratanapol reigned as IBF miniflyweight champion for five years and now campaigns in the junior flyweight division. Ratanapol is remembered by Filipino fans for dethroning Manny Melchor and defending against Edito (Ala) Villamor, Ronnie Magramo, Jerry Pahayahay, Roger Espanola, Jun Arlos, and Jun Orjaliza. The brothers are known to be Filipino tormentors. So Peñalosa has an axe to grind.

Peñalosa, 29, claimed the WBC International diadem on a sixth round stoppage of Thai Pone Saengmorakot here last May. The win raised Peñalosa’s record to 41-3-2, with 26 knockouts. His only losses were to Samuel Duran and In Joo Cho twice. Like Ratanachai, he has never been knocked out.

Tokuyama, a North Korean born and residing in Japan, outpointed Cho to wrest the WBC title in Osaka last August. It was Cho who dethroned Peñalosa on a disputed split decision two years ago. Last January, Cho repeated over Peñalosa via another controversial verdict in Seoul to retain the title.

Salud says Peñalosa is in the prime of his career and ready to ascend the throne once more. It doesn’t matter if Peñalosa fights Tokuyama or Nago or Cho–the title is his for the taking. But first things first–he’s got to take care of Ratanachai who’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain in their duel.

Ratanachai is guaranteed $5,000 for the fight and will be joined here by three companions, including a judge. Peñalosa will receive a net of P1.2 million.