Dodie Boy out for revenge

LAS VEGAS – For former two-time world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa, the fight between Nonito Donaire Jr. and Rafael Concepcion has a special meaning because it’s his chance to exorcise the ghost of his loss to Panama’s Hilario Zapata in 1986.

Peñalosa will be in Donaire’s corner for the fight against Concepcion, a Panamanian like Zapata, for the interim WBA superflyweight title at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino here this morning (Manila time).

Peñalosa will never forget the night he disappointed a huge hometown crowd at the University of Life stadium when he lost to Zapata on a 12-round decision. Zapata, defending his WBA flyweight crown, taught Peñalosa a neat boxing lesson in dominating the bout. Judge Lou Tabat saw it 144-142, judge Fritz Werner 145-143 and judge Bernie Soto, 148-139. Peñalosa, however, rebounded to win the IBF flyweight title via a fifth round knockout over Hi Sup Shin in Seoul a year later.

“Of course, I want revenge – no Filipino has beaten a Panamanian yet in a title fight,” said Peñalosa. “My fight against Zapata was a case of poor scouting. I was told Zapata would fight me from close range. It didn’t turn out that way. He was much taller than me and boxed the entire fight. I chased him around the ring but because of my polio, I couldn’t catch him. But now, I have a chance to even the score.”

Peñalosa said as Concepcion is Panamanian, his dream is to pay back Zapata through Donaire. He will work Donaire’s corner with brother Jonathan and conditioning coach Mike Bazzel against Concepcion.

In boxing history, there have only been three world title fights involving a Filipino and Panamanian. The first was in 1976 when Alfonso Lopez scored a 15th round technical knockout over hometown favorite Erbito Salavarria to capture the WBA flyweight crown at the Araneta Coliseum with Sonny Padilla as referee. Two years before, Salavarria lost to Lopez on points in a non-title bout in Panama City.

The second was Peñalosa’s loss to Zapata in a WBA flyweight title bout. The third was when Anselmo Moreno decisioned Rolly Lunas to retain the WBA bantamweight diadem in Panama City last year.

No Filipino has beaten a Panamanian in a world title fight so far. Last year, Concepcion halted A. J. Banal in Cebu City for the interim WBA superflyweight crown – the same prize at stake this morning.

There were other fights that pitted a Filipino against a Panamanian. In 1969, Ismael Laguna knocked out former Oriental featherweight champion Curly Aguirre in the fourth round in Panama City. In 1974, Roberto (Hands of Stone) Duran stopped Flash Gallego in the seventh, also in Panama City.

But the greatest fight ever between a Filipino and a Panamanian was when Flash Elorde decked Laguna twice en route to scoring a unanimous 10-round decision at the Araneta Coliseum in 1966. It was a bout that featured two of boxing’s all-time legends, the only fight where a Filipino beat a Panamanian.

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WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano, who is staking his crown against Catanduanes hotshot Bernabe Concepcion this morning (Manila time), is a grizzled survivor. His record is 36-1-1, with 15 KOs.

He has encountered some rough sailing in at least two title defenses but managed to emerge with the title belt still strapped around his waist.

Luevano, a 5-7 southpaw from Los Angeles, was floored in the fourth round before repulsing tough Thai challenger Terdsak Jandaeng on points in March last year and three months later, also got up from the canvas to retain his crown on a split draw with Mario Santiago. His only loss was a decision to Martin Honorio four years ago.

A methodical warrior who likes to wear down his opponents into submission, Luevano floored Nicky Cook five times before the Englishman’s corner threw in the towel in London in 2007. That was Luevano’s most brilliant performance ever and his reward was the WBO 126-pound title.

“Concepcion’s just another challenger,” said Luevano. “When the bell rings, I’m a changed man – I go out there to do a job. I know he’ll try to pressure. We trained in the gym anticipating what he’ll do. I’ll jab and move. He doesn’t stand a chance.”

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Luevano’s trainer Robert (Grandpa) Garcia also takes care of IBF lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria who defends his crown against Mexico’s Jesus Iribe in Honolulu on Aug. 29. Viloria will be at ringside for this morning’s fights as a TV analyst for the world feed.

Bernabe Concepcion’s manager Aljoe Jaro said there’s no doubt in his mind the Filipino will dethrone Luevano.

“This is Abe’s time,” said Jaro. “He will become the next Filipino world champion. Luevano’s a little brittle but when he goes down, he gets up. He’s not a hard hitter but he’s hard to hit because of his footwork. Abe has to fight with heart. If he fights Luevano like Manny Pacquiao, he’ll win for sure.”