Tuñacaos weight soared to 120, eight pounds over the limit, five days before the fight. For nearly four days, he hardly ate to bring his weight down. That was torture a punishment worse than what befell Tuñacao in the ring. When you dont eat, your body wilts and your mind breaks. You get dehydrated. Youre miserable and you cant do a thing about it.
Medical studies show that a boxer is susceptible to brain damage when hes dehydrated. Thats because the fluids that usually form the protective cover for the brain are drained. The WBC, realizing this danger, instituted a program two years ago to monitor the weight of fighters. Under WBC rules, a fighter can scale only up to 10 percent overweight 30 days before a bout and five percent a week before.
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) physician Dr. Nasser Cruz, who accompanied Tuñacao to Thailand, said a solid blow to the head could cause brain damage on a dehydrated fighter.
"Malcolm was burned out trying to make the weight," related Dr. Cruz. "He lost the fight on the scales. Its high time to educate our fighters on the importance of nutrition. A good nutritionist can prepare a balanced diet for a fighter to preserve his strength without reducing his food intake."
Dr. Cruz cited Gerry Peñalosas case where with guidance from prominent nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta, he has managed to keep within the junior bantamweight limit while enjoying three square meals a day.
In Tuñacaos case, he was only three pounds over the limit when he left Manila for Thailand a week before the fight. He was so confident of making the weight that he gorged on food during the plane ride to Bangkok then helped himself to more food offered by his Thai hosts before realizing he was being led into a trap.
But its not the end of the world for Tuñacao. Hell learn from his mistakes. Hes only 22 and hes got a lot of fighting years left. It was just his first loss in 13 outings.
Tuñacaos manager Rex (Wakee) Salud said the fighter might come back as a junor bantamweight or bantamweight. My suggestion is for Tuñacao to seek Dr. Orbetas advice. Seeking ones natural weight is no guessing game. Tuñacao requires expert counsel. Dr. Orbeta should set him back on track.
Only four Filipinos had previously lost by a first round knockout in a world title fight. Diego de Villa was stopped by Joo Do Chun in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight championship fight in Kwangju in 1984. Rolando Pascua lost to Johnny Bredahl in an International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight title bout in Copenhagen in 1996. Rico Siodora was halted by Kongthawat Orathai-gym in a World Boxing Federation (WBF) featherweight title fight in Cagayan de Oro in 1998. And Eric Jamili was knocked out by Zolani Petelo in an IBF miniflyweight championship bout in South Africa in 1999.
In contrast, there were five world title fights where Filipinos won by first round knockout. Flash Elorde retained his junior lightweight crown by blitzing Harold Gomes in San Francisco and Sergio Caprari in Manila, both in 1960. Roberto Cruz won the vacant junior welterweight diadem via a first round demolition of Raymundo (Battling) Torres in Los Angeles in 1963. Ben Villaflor regained the junior lightweight title on a revenge first round stoppage of Kuniaki Shibata in Honolulu in 1973. And Luisito Espinosa pulverized Khaokor Galaxy in a single round to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title in Bangkok in 1989.
Pongsaklek, 23, has feasted on Filipinos since turning pro. He boasts a 39-1 record, with 23 KOs, and 37 of his wins were at the expense of Filipinos. Last year, Pongsaklek won eight fights all over Filipinos, namely, Arman Rosil, Joven Simbajon, Max Suarez, Elmer Rodrigo, Ramil Anito (twice), Junior Milla and Nathan Barcelona.
Sooner or later, Pongsakleks true colors will be exposed. Is he just a tormentor of patsies or is he in the class of such legendary Thai champions as Pone Kingpetch, Chartchai Chionoi, and Khaosai Galaxy? I suspect that Pongsaklek is no extraordinary talent and maybe someone like Bulala will put him in his place.