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(Yes, I know how gay the name of the article sounds)
By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:12:00 04/29/2009
Trainer Freddie Roach did a magnificent job pulling out a pitifully outclassed Gerry Peñalosa from his fiery world championship challenge in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
There were two distinct reasons why Roach mumbled out a surrender order.
First, the fight was not going anywhere for the gallant Filipino ring warrior.
A second and more heartwarming reason was this one offered by painter Danny Dalena.
The revered, multiawarded artist said it was obvious that Roach, a ******-up former featherweight standout, did not want to see poor Gerry following in his trainer’s stuttering footsteps.
* * *
Actually, the referee could’ve ruled it perfectly had he cut off the carnage in the seventh round.
Of course, that proposed stoppage wouldn’t have sat well with the hometown crowd at ringside.
This exactly was the case with majority of Filipino fans who were initially shocked when Nonito Donaire was prevented from finishing off Raul Martinez, after the game but outclassed visitor was floored again late in the fourth round on April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The fight was not going anywhere, said referee Pete Podgorski, who added that, other than being way behind on points, Martinez had already suffered several falls.
* * *
It’s reassuring to hear that Peñalosa had been cleared by doctors.
He was declared intact, in perfect form after being taken to hospital.
Having been in the same situation many times before, Roach definitely knew that another savage round could’ve caused untold damage on Peñalosa.
In fact, Roach would declare after the one-sided bout that, honestly, he had wanted to stop it as early as the seventh.
* * *
What’s harder to determine, though, is the deeper punishment Gerry could’ve absorbed in those two extra rounds—the eighth and ninth—when he bravely weathered Lopez’s torpedo shots.
These injuries, although still intangible, might be permanent and could cruelly manifest themselves years from today.
Which brings up the question: Do the IBF and the WBO follow contrasting rules in the case of stoppages?
In Donaire’s win, it became clear that the IBF favors contests of skills and goes for ringmanship over killer punching power.
In the Peñalosa challenge which Roach had to stop, however, the WBO obviously wanted to see a brutal fight to the end.
* * *
Roach deserves a medal for preventing Gerry from suffering undue harm, although the act came a little late.
What’s rather bothersome was Roach’s admission that, despite the awful disparity, he had pinned his hopes on Lopez fading and losing steam starting the fifth round.
That, you bet, was the result of a tragic miscalculation.
JuanMa, in fact, loomed sharper, more menacing as the fight progressed.
* * *
Of course, Roach, who hit it perfectly with that can’t-pull-the-trigger taunt on Oscar De La Hoya, seldom fall victim to sordid speculations.
But isn’t he the same three-time Trainer of the Year who, in 2005, ruled Manny Pacquiao would’ve no trouble running over Erik Morales —only to see the Pacman bloodied and beaten by El Terrible in their first bout?
Now, Roach has been boasting that Pacquiao, banking on phenomenal speed, should be able to finish off Ricky Hatton inside three rounds on Sunday.
Let’s pray Roach hits it right this time.
Hatton is the grabbing, brawling sort who, although visibly slower, could make it a long, sticky night for his sensational opponent.
By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:12:00 04/29/2009
Trainer Freddie Roach did a magnificent job pulling out a pitifully outclassed Gerry Peñalosa from his fiery world championship challenge in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
There were two distinct reasons why Roach mumbled out a surrender order.
First, the fight was not going anywhere for the gallant Filipino ring warrior.
A second and more heartwarming reason was this one offered by painter Danny Dalena.
The revered, multiawarded artist said it was obvious that Roach, a ******-up former featherweight standout, did not want to see poor Gerry following in his trainer’s stuttering footsteps.
* * *
Actually, the referee could’ve ruled it perfectly had he cut off the carnage in the seventh round.
Of course, that proposed stoppage wouldn’t have sat well with the hometown crowd at ringside.
This exactly was the case with majority of Filipino fans who were initially shocked when Nonito Donaire was prevented from finishing off Raul Martinez, after the game but outclassed visitor was floored again late in the fourth round on April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The fight was not going anywhere, said referee Pete Podgorski, who added that, other than being way behind on points, Martinez had already suffered several falls.
* * *
It’s reassuring to hear that Peñalosa had been cleared by doctors.
He was declared intact, in perfect form after being taken to hospital.
Having been in the same situation many times before, Roach definitely knew that another savage round could’ve caused untold damage on Peñalosa.
In fact, Roach would declare after the one-sided bout that, honestly, he had wanted to stop it as early as the seventh.
* * *
What’s harder to determine, though, is the deeper punishment Gerry could’ve absorbed in those two extra rounds—the eighth and ninth—when he bravely weathered Lopez’s torpedo shots.
These injuries, although still intangible, might be permanent and could cruelly manifest themselves years from today.
Which brings up the question: Do the IBF and the WBO follow contrasting rules in the case of stoppages?
In Donaire’s win, it became clear that the IBF favors contests of skills and goes for ringmanship over killer punching power.
In the Peñalosa challenge which Roach had to stop, however, the WBO obviously wanted to see a brutal fight to the end.
* * *
Roach deserves a medal for preventing Gerry from suffering undue harm, although the act came a little late.
What’s rather bothersome was Roach’s admission that, despite the awful disparity, he had pinned his hopes on Lopez fading and losing steam starting the fifth round.
That, you bet, was the result of a tragic miscalculation.
JuanMa, in fact, loomed sharper, more menacing as the fight progressed.
* * *
Of course, Roach, who hit it perfectly with that can’t-pull-the-trigger taunt on Oscar De La Hoya, seldom fall victim to sordid speculations.
But isn’t he the same three-time Trainer of the Year who, in 2005, ruled Manny Pacquiao would’ve no trouble running over Erik Morales —only to see the Pacman bloodied and beaten by El Terrible in their first bout?
Now, Roach has been boasting that Pacquiao, banking on phenomenal speed, should be able to finish off Ricky Hatton inside three rounds on Sunday.
Let’s pray Roach hits it right this time.
Hatton is the grabbing, brawling sort who, although visibly slower, could make it a long, sticky night for his sensational opponent.
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