Peñalosa retains title

Gerry Peñalosa let his punches do the talking last night, stopping Thai challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in the sixth round to retain his World Boxing Council international superflyweight title at the Casino Filipino amphitheater in Parañaque City.

Egged on by a huge, wildy-cheering hometown crowd, Peñalosa took control of the fight right after the opening bell before finally stopping the Thai challenger on the 2:29 mark of the sixth round.

A crunching right cross to the face sent the 24-year-old Vorapin to the canvas, and the Thai lay flat on his back, obviously with no power left to lift himself up.

It was a perfect ending for the blockbuster fight which gave the 28-year-old Peñalosa a much-needed boost in his bid to regain the world title currently being held by Japan’s Masamori Tokuyama.

He improved his mark to 42-3-2 with 27 KOs while Vorapin dropped to 38-5 as he lost for the first time in more than 12 bouts with Filipinos.

Vorapin, advertised as one hell of a fighter who boasted he would knock out the Filipino within five rounds, was more like a clown on the ring, playing with the crowd, flashing a big smile and spreading his arms in a you-can’t-hurt-me manner everytime he got hit.

"Hindi lang ako nagpabaya dahil alam kong malakas din siya, pero noong itinama ko iyong cross, ang pakiramdam ko ay hindi na siya talaga babangon," said Peñalosa.