Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr.: Picking up where his father left off

If your surname is Peñalosa, you’re meant to be a professional fighter. That’s just how it goes in the Philippines. However, it almost did not happen for the younger Peñalosa . “His mother didn’t want him to become a professional fighter," quipped Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Sr. “but he had it in his blood." He had a sterling amateur career, compiling an impressive record of 27 wins without a defeat with ten of those wins coming via the short route. But amateur boxing wasn’t the perfect fit for him. He yearned for the challenge of prize fighting. His grandfather, Carl, started the boxing tradition for their family, winning the Philippine Lightweight title in his short career. His father fought through great odds to become the country’s first two division world champion, winning the IBF light flyweight and flyweight titles. And of course we all know his uncle Gerry who is also a two-division former world champion who held the WBC super flyweight and WBO bantamweight titles. Now it is the younger Peñalosa’s turn to make his family and the country proud. Peñalosa boasts of an undefeated slate winning all five fights by knockout. Come Saturday, he will battle Kong Kiatpracha Gym (5-8-1, 2 KOs). Peñalosa suffered a cut in his last fight against Jeffrey Jimenez and although the cut looked like it has healed, it may still cause problems for him as scar tissue breaks easier. Other than that, Peñalosa does not have anything else to worry about. The Thai has not won in his last six fight and he was knocked out in three of those. All the young fighter needs to do is weather the early storm that the Thai will undoubtedly bring in the early rounds then start pressing on the gas pedal in the middle rounds. The promoters have packed the undercard with three tremendous fights that will whet the appetites of the fans for the main event. Rodel Mayol (28-5-2, 21 KOs) will battle Jayson Rotoni (12-9-1, 7 KOs), Jimrex Jaca (33-6-3, 18 KOs) will face Phillip Jun Demecillo (6-14,1, 2 KOs), and Eden Sonsona (21-6-0, 7 KOs) will end his long hiatus from the ring to battle Emer Labanza (7-7-0, 0 KOS). The names of the fighters in the undercard further stress the fact that a lot is expected from Peñalosa. Sonsona has already fought multiple times outside the country, Jaca battled and lost to Juan Manuel Marquez back in 2006, and Mayol is a former world champion who has traded gloves with the likes of Edgar Sosa, Omar Nino Romero, and Ivan Calderon. Yet, it is Peñalosa who headlines the card and it is his name that is mentioned a lot on most promo materials. This is largely because of his name alone. The young Peñalosa has not proven much in this early stage of his career. All of his opponents had more losses than wins. It is the boy’s surname that helps sell tickets and create buzz. Filipino boxing fans still revere the name Peñalosa and they know that whoever carries that name is guaranteed to be a pretty good boxer.
Get an early glimpse at the up-and-coming fighter as GMA airs Laban ng Lahi: Dugong Kampeon on August 7 from 10:10 am to 12:10 pm. -- OMG, GMA News