It’s up to Gerry

After a long relationship, lawyer Rudy Salud has decided to part ways with Gerry Peñalosa as the former World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion’s manager.

"I’m getting off," said Salud with a note of sadness in his voice. "Gerry tried his best to regain the title. I tried my best to give him all the opportunities to do it. But together, our best was just not good enough. If Gerry decides he wants to continue fighting, my advice is for him to find a new manager. I’m not turning my back on Gerry, however. I will still help him. And if he wants, I could try to convince the WBC to get him a rematch with (Masamori) Tokuyama."

Salud took over as Peñalosa’s manager after he lost the WBC crown to In Joo Cho on a split 12-round decision in Seoul in 1998. He initially brought Peñalosa to train at lightheavyweight titlist Roy Jones’ camp in Pensacola, Florida, then to Freddie Roach’s gym in Hollywood. Salud also arranged for Peñalosa to fight in the US.

Thrice, Peñalosa tried to reclaim the world crown. And thrice, he was thwarted–first by Cho in a rematch, then by Tokuyama last year, and again by the Japanese of North Korean descent in a return bout a few days ago.

Salud did all he could for Peñalosa. He spared no expense in paying for his training overseas. As a former WBC secretary-general, he used his connections to lobby for not just one but three title shots for Peñalosa.

Of course, Peñalosa deserved the three cracks but only Salud could’ve convinced WBC president Jose Sulaiman to give him the breaks.

To be sure, Salud spent a tidy sum to finance Peñalosa’s campaign. He did it not only for Peñalosa but for the country. It was worth the sacrifice because according to Salud, it was his way of giving back to the Filipino people, hungry to embrace another sports hero.

But somehow, Lady Luck wouldn’t oblige Peñalosa.

Salud said he couldn’t ask anything more from Sulaiman who flew in from Mexico to act as ringside supervisor of Tokuyama’s sixth title defense against Peñalosa in Osaka last Dec. 20.

"The guy is so kind," said Salud. "Before the fight, he got the referee and judges together for dinner with me. At the rules meeting, he mentioned how he learned the ropes from me. When I was WBC secretary-general, Jose was in my staff. Jose recounted that as (Justiniano) Montano was a bit aggressive and stubborn as WBC president, I held the organization together and reached out to the member nations. He credited me for preventing the Latin American bloc from bolting the WBC. When I was the chairman of the WBC Ratings Committee, Jose recalled that I consulted with the officials in countries where fighters were from. That was how he got the idea to also consult with officials from different countries to get them involved in the ratings process. It was Jose’s way of telling the referee and judges to give Gerry a fair shake because of his concern for me."

Unfortunately, two of the three judges saw it for Tokuyama.

Salud said he felt Peñalosa did enough to earn the decision but he’s not disputing the outcome.

"Tokuyama is only going to get better," observed Salud. "He’s a great fighter and a great champion. It will always be difficult for Gerry to beat Tokuyama in Japan unless he scores a knockout. At Gerry’s age, I don’t think he has the same power and sting in his punches like before.

It’s not that Gerry was cheated out of a victory. It’s just that in Japan, the fans react to every punch Tokuyama throws even if it doesn’t connect and judges, being human, are swayed by the cheers. If Gerry gets a rematch, it will probably be held in Japan again and I think the result will remain the same. It will always be a close fight and Tokuyama will end up winning each time."

Roach, who worked Peñalosa’s corner in Osaka, downplayed the fighter’s chances of regaining the title. He noted that against Tokuyama, Peñalosa had difficulty executing what he practiced in the gym and may now be too slow for his weight division. Younger fighters are quicker and stronger. A superflyweight in his 30s will be hard-pressed to keep in step with the new crop of up-and-coming contenders. Peñalosa turned 30 last August.

Influential Japanese impresario Akihiko Honda is reportedly interested in taking Peñalosa under his wing on condition somebody else fronts as manager. Honda couldn’t be bothered by the day-to-day obligations of a manager to a fighter and would rather call the shots from a distance.

Obviously, Salud wouldn’t agree to be Honda’s front. But if somebody else would, Honda should be able to stretch Peñalosa’s career for several more big paydays.

As for Peñalosa, he’s not rushing a decision on his future as a fighter. He shouldn’t. Not after a heartbreaking, controversial loss. Peñalosa should do a lot of soul-searching during the holidays and ask himself if he wants to continue living the life of a fighter. Then he should decide, in consultation with his family, what he plans for the future.