Young Peñalosa barely makes weight
Hot prospect Dave Peñalosa, who comes from the illustrious Peñalosa fighting family, struggled making the featherweight limit of 126 lbs during yesterday’s tumultuous weighin at the TV5 headquarters in Mandaluyong.
Peñalosa needed almost two hours to get rid of two pounds after coming in at 128 on his first try and failed to get clearance when he attempted twice for his shot at the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight crown against Mexican Marcos Cardenas on Saturday at the SM North Skydome.
In his fourth try, Peñalosa finally made it but not after his father-trainer Dodie Boy, the polio-stricken two-division champion, confronted the Games and Amusements Board crew that included chairman Abraham Mitra and WBO representative Leon Panoncillo.
Dodie Boy yelled at GAB personnel and Panoncillo over questions on who’s in charge of making the decision on whether his son had been cleared to fight or not.
“Bakit ba sya (Panoncillo) ang nagsasabi kung ano ang timbang eh dapat ang GAB ang magsasabi?” said a furious Dodie Boy. [Why is he calling the shots when it should be GAB?]
Peñalosa, who looked famished and weary after the ordeal, finally came in at 126 lbs after taking off his underwear.
Peñalosa’s uncle Gerry, also a twodivision titleholder and promoter of the fight being staged in partnership with TV5, also heaved a sigh of relief.
“I think nag-kumpyansa lang sila kaya nagkaganun. Kasi ang sabi nila ay nakuha na yung timbang bago nagpunta sa weighin,” said Gerry. [They might have been complacent that Dave already made the weigh earlier.]
Cardenas likewise didn’t make it on his first try but made it on his second, coming in at 126.
Peñalosa’s pristine 14-0 slate with 10 KOs will be at stake.