Gerry back in ring

Former World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion Gerry Peñalosa was back in the ring at the Elorde gym last week. He sparred two rounds with Malcolm Tuñacao who battles Ali Rohmat of Indonesia in a scheduled 12-round bout for the vacant WBC International 115-pound title at the Ynares Center in Antipolo tomorrow night.

Peñalosa, 32, retired from beakbusting after losing to Masamori Tokuyama in a bid to regain the WBC throne in Osaka last December.

Is he on the comeback trail?

No, said Peñalosa who confessed to encountering difficulty holding down his weight–now up to 132 pounds. He’s busy supplying hotels and restaurants in Manila with tuna from General Santos City. And there’s his family to attend to–wife Goody and their two kids.

But Tuñacao keeps Peñalosa glued to the Sweet Science.

It was Tuñacao who invited Peñalosa to be his adviser after straining his relations with manager Rex (Wakee) Salud. Tuñacao said his contract with Salud expires in December. Salud told The Star he hasn’t communicated with Tuñacao in eight months.

Tuñacao blamed Salud for his inactivity although he admitted turning down an offer to fight for the lightly-regarded World Boxing Federation (WBF) championship in London last March. Tuñacao’s refusal to travel to England probably caused the estrangement because Salud negotiated the aborted deal.

Tuñacao explained he didn’t think fighting for the WBF crown was a wise career move, considering his ultimate objective of claiming another WBC title.

Tuñacao, 25, was once the WBC flyweight champion. He lost the belt in his second defense to Pongsaklek Wonjongkam two years ago. It is the only stain in his record of 14-1-2, with 10 KOs.

Weight problems led to the loss to Pongsaklek. Tuñacao had to shed off two pounds the morning of the weigh-in and was drained when he climbed the ring to face the Thai the day after. Today, Tuñacao is comfortable in the superflyweight division. He expects to make the 115-pound limit easily at the weigh-in in the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) office in Makati this afternoon.

Despite his hectic schedule, Peñalosa said he’ll never turn his back on Tuñacao, a boyhood friend. He checks on the fighter’s diet, makes sure he trains properly and talks strategy with coach Ting Velasquez. That’s why when one of Tuñacao’s sparmates called in sick last week, Peñalosa laced up the gloves and went two rounds with the Mandaue fighter known as "Eagle Eye" for his deadly punching accuracy.

When Tuñacao left Salud’s camp, he was reunited with Velasquez, a former national boxer and ex-pro. Velasquez trained Tuñacao, a two-time Palarong Pambansa gold medallist, as an amateur in Tony Aldeguer’s stable. Velasquez took over from his cousin Brix Flores. Tomorrow’s fight will mark Tuñacao’s first as a pro with Velasquez in his corner.

Tuñacao said he’s still shopping for a new manager but ruled out Peñalosa as a possibility. "Tutulung lang si Gerry," noted Tuñacao. "Ayaw niya ng gulo. Sa background lang siya. Idol ko si Gerry. Ang pangarap ko ay talunin si Tokuyama–gagantihan ko si Gerry."

Tuñacao said he has waited 10 months for the chance to fight again. He hasn’t fought since halting Kazuyoshi Niki in Kokura, Japan, last November. Tuñacao accepted a P60,000 offer from promoter Bebot Elorde to face Rohmat and has trained in Manila for two months, leaving his wife Rhoda and their three children–Sharalyn, 8, Dave, 5, and Malcolm Jr., 2–in Mandaue.

"Malaking sakripisyo ito," said Tuñacao. "Matagal ko ng ‘di nakikita ang pamilya ko. Maliit lang ang premyo at si boss Wakee may share pa ng 1/3. Okay lang. Basta makalaban muli."

Tuñacao, rated No. 4 by the WBC, hopes a convincing victory over Rohmat will put him in line for a shot at Tokuyama’s crown.

Rohmat, the Indonesian flyweight champion, boasts a record of 23-4-2, with 16 KOs. One of his victims, former Philippine champion Lee Escobido, told Tuñacao not to take Rohmat lightly.

"May lakas daw," said Tunacao. "Magalaw, mahirap tamaan. Sisikapin kong habulin at patulugin."

In the companion main event, WBC International minimumweight titleholder Ernesto Rubillar stakes his crown against Iwan Key of Indonesia. Rubillar, 32, is making the third defense of the title he won on a seventh round disposal of Zarlit Rodrigo two years ago.

Key, 19, turned pro in 1999–nine years after Rubillar’s debut. He’s fresh from outpointing La Syukut to capture the Indonesian 105-pound title. Early this year, Key posted back-to-back wins over Filipinos Jun Arlos and Steve Dimaisip in Jakarta. His record is 16-3-1, with two KOs.

A big crowd is expected to witness the double WBC International championship card assembled by Elorde in association with former Rizal Gov. Ito Ynares.