Pressure no issue for Randy Petalcorin

Fighting a knockout artist for the vacant IBF lightflyweight title before a homecrowd that won’t accept losing as an option puts no added pressure on Davao City’s Randy Petalcorin who battles Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Midas Hotel and Casino tent on Oct. 29.

“Sanay na ako sa pressure,” said Petalcorin from his training camp in General Santos City the other day. “Hindi ko iniintindi ang knockout record ni Alvarado. Alam ko, malakas siya pero mas malakas ako. Never ako na-knockdown sa laban. Ang sabi ng iba, mas matitindi ang mga nakalaban niya. Ang sabi ko naman, walang bagay ‘yun. Sa boksing, dalawa kayong lumalaban. Bale wala ang history. Ang importante ay kung sino ang manalo sa laban, ‘yun lang.”

Petalcorin, 26, said he plans to counter Alvarado who’s expected to come forward and turn the fight into a phone-booth brawl. “Siya ang hahabol sa akin,” he said. “Galing sa labas ang suntok niya kaya madaling iwasan.” If Petalcorin boxes the way he intends, it will be a long night for Alvarado.

Petalcorin said his biggest fight so far was when he stopped Panama’s Walter Tello in the seventh round to claim the vacant interim WBA lightflyweight crown in Shanghai in 2014. But a victory over Alvarado will send Petalcorin over the top. 

In his ring career, Petalcorin has lost only twice in compiling a 29-2-1 record, with 22 KOs. The first loss came in his sixth pro outing and he was halted by future world champion Marlon Tapales in the second round at the Cuneta Astrodome in 2010. The second defeat was to Tanzania’s Omari Kimmeri on a split decision in Melbourne in 2016. Petalcorin said he didn’t train properly for Tapales and surrendered when he couldn’t catch his breath without going down.  

As for Kimmeri, Petalcorin said he should’ve won and his co-manager J. C. Manangquil protested the outcome to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman since the fight was for the vacant WBC silver flyweight throne. “Mr. Sulaiman sent an apology letter, assuring us that Randy’s rating wouldn’t be affected,” said Manangquil. “In fact, Randy was later elevated to the WBC’s top five.”

Petalcorin said he’s dedicating the coming fight to his family, particularly his sister Ritchel who’s a breast cancer survivor. It was in 2013 when Ritchel was diagnosed with breast cancer and Petalcorin cried when he heard the news. Petalcorin is the oldest of five. His only brother Erwin, 25, tried his luck as a prizefighter but gave up in 2013 after compiling a 2-0 record. His father Eusebio, a farmer, and mother Carolina live in Marilog, about 80 kilometers from Davao City.

Petalcorin, who went to school only up to Grade 6, resides in General Santos City with his girlfriend of seven years Grace Balsomo and their one-year-old son Blake, named after NBA star Blake Griffin. Since starting to train for Alvarado over two months ago, Petalcorin has stayed in Manangquil’s Sanman Gym and his son visits every other night.

Petalcorin was 11 when he had his first amateur fight and 17 when he turned pro. “My favorite all-time fighter is Sen. Manny Pacquiao because he won world titles from flyweight all the way to superwelterweight,” he said in Pilipino. “A highlight of my career was when I beat Samartlek Kokietgym for the PABA lightflyweight title in 2012 and went up to No. 2 in the WBA ratings.” Kokietgym was decked thrice in losing to Petalcorin on points. The most exciting fight he’s watched on TV was Marvin Hagler’s third round disposal of Tommy Hearns in Las Vegas in 1985.