Gerry’s checkered career over

All good things must come to an end.

In this case, it was the checkered boxing career of Gerry Peñalosa who, biting his lips and holding back his tears, announced his retirement yesterday afternoon before his lovely wife Goody, his manager and biggest fan Rudy Salud, and just a handful of scribes at the coffee shop of the Bayview Hotel in Manila.

"No more. It’s time for me to stop. I have to do this no matter how painful it is," said the former world champion in Pilipino as he broke news of his retirement barely two weeks after he lost to Japan’s Masamori Tokuyama in a bid to wrest the World Boxing Council super flyweight crown in Tokyo.

Peñalosa, at 31 slowly moving past his prime, still wore the scars of that title fight with the Japanese champion. It was the same title he held until August of 1998 when he lost to Korean In Joo Cho; also the same one he tried to snatch from Tokuyama two years ago.

"Baka isip ko na lang ang may kaya pero ang katawan ko hindi na. Hindi ko na prime at tama si Mr. Salud, hindi kami buwenas magkasama. At takot na din akong may mangyari pang masama sa akin sa mga susunod na laban. I have to and must hang up my gloves. Wala na," he added.

By closing his fighting book with a record of 46 wins, six losses, two draws and 28 knockouts, Peñalosa relinquished both the WBC International and North American Boxing Federation titles in the 115 lb division. He fought 10 times under Salud, winning seven and losing three title fights.

"Lahat ginawa ni Mr. Salud para sa akin. Ginamit niya ‘yung power niya, ‘yung influence niya makatulong lang sa akin at sa bansa natin at maka-produce lang ng world champion. Sorry, hindi ko naibigay," said Peñalosa who started fighting under the former WBC sec-gen late in 1998.

"Mas grabe nga ang sakripisyo niya kaysa sa akin pero wala pa ding nangyari. Siguro we love boxing but boxing does not love us. Noong makilala ko si Mr. Salud, pababa na siguro ako. Yung prime niya, hindi ko na prime," the left-handed slugger said.

His wife Goody, smiling, said: "Masaya ako at ang aming pamilya dahil kasama na namin siya ulit. Masaya din dahil walang nangyaring masama sa kanya bago siya mag-retiro. Pero mami-miss din namin ‘yung pressure at tension sa training at sa laban."

Salud, the former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner, met the Peñalosas in his residence the other day, informing his ward of his decision to quit as his manager based on their previous agreement in case they fail against Tokuyama.

Salud’s decision to quit as his manager, according to Peñalosa, just made it easier for him to announce his retirement, which he decided on the week after his fight against Tokuyama.

"Di ko na kaya lumaban na mag-isa. Ngayong wala na ang kakampi ko at supporter ko," added Peñalosa who is set to put up his own business of supplying fresh fish from Gen. Santos City to hotels and restaurants in Manila and other places.

Salud, however, said he and Peñalosa will not abandon boxing at all as they plan to continue their search for a future world champion.

"Gerry will scour the whole of Negros Occidental, Cebu and even Mindanao to look for talents. And kapag pumasa sa standards niya, which is very high, they will be sent to the US to undergo a lookover from Freddie Roach for 30 to 45 days. Then they will take the next step," Salud said.

His son, Chito, said he was just glad to see Peñalosa retire before it becomes too late.

"I’m so happy that Gerry decided to get out of it in one piece. Pagrabe na nang pagrabe ang injuries ni Gerry each fight and that’s a sign of a little dilution and the improvement of the quality of his opponents. I’m happy that Gerry made this decision," he said.