By Nick Giongco
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 in 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 shouted at the GAB personnel and Panoncillo as they didn’t coordinate with each other over who’s in charge of making the decision whether his son had been cleared to fight or not.
“At one time, Panoncillo was the one calling the shots when it was the GAB that actually had the authority,” said Dodie Boy in Pilipino.
Fortunately, Peñalosa, who looked famished and weary after the ordeal, came in at 126 lbs after taking off his underwear.
Peñalosa’s uncle Gerry, also a two-division titleholder and promoter of the fight being staged in partnership with TV5, finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Cardenas didn’t make it in his first try but made it in his second, coming in at 126.
Peñalosa’s pristine 14-0 slate with 10 KOs will be at stake against Cardenas.
