Before leaving for Japan last Thursday, Peñalosa told The STAR the scheduled 12-round bout won’t go the distance. And he doesn’t expect to lose. Peñalosa said he’s confident of regaining the throne that In Joo Cho stole on a controversial split decision three years ago.
In a rare forecast, Peñalosa predicted a knockout win in the eighth round.
"Diyos na lang ang makakapagpigil," he said. "Ako’y 100 percent prepared–physically and mentally. Titigil na ako mag-boksing kung matalo ako. Kaya, must-win ito para sa akin. First love ko ang boksing–ayaw ko pang huminto. Ipaglalaban ko ang pangalan ng Peñalosa."
But Peñalosa admitted that in boxing, anything can happen, particularly to a challenger fighting on foreign soil.
"Dapat walang pagkakamali sa loob ng ring," he continued. "Dapat umiwas sa hometown decision. Dayo tayo sa Japan at kanila yung champion. Kung tatakbo siya, hahabulin ko. Hindi siya pwedeng magtago sa akin–maliit lang ang ring, aabutan ko siya."
Peñalosa said he respects Tokuyama whose record is 24-2-1, with six knockouts and won’t take him lightly. He has carefully studied Tokuyama’s style in tapes of five recent fights against Pone Saengmorakot, In Joo Cho (twice), Jack Siahaya, and Akihiko Nago.
Tokuyama was particularly impressive in knocking out Cho with a single blow–a right straight–in the fifth round in Seoul last May. But Nago, a mediocre prospect, exposed Tokuyama’s vulnerability when he decked the Korean with a southpaw left in a losing effort last December.
"May lakas siya subalit hindi lahat ng kanyang suntok ay malakas," noted Peñalosa. "Perfect ang kanyang right straight–’yun ang kanyang pamatay. Pinagaralan ko na kung paano iwasan yung right straight niya. Maliban sa right straight, mukhang wala na siyang power punch. Magalaw siya – in and out ang kanyang style. But napansin ko, flat-footed siya. Ang advantage niya ay size–matangkad sa akin. Hindi naman gaanong mabilis–pinagaralan ko na kung paano i-cut off yung ring. Palagay ko, mas madaling habulin si Tokuyama kaysa kay Cho."