PENALOSA LOSES WBC TITLE
TO KOREAN
Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 30, 1998
- Filipino champion Gerry Penalosa lost his World Boxing Council Super-flyweight
crown to Cho In-Joo in a split decision, 2-1, Saturday in Seoul. Two judges
scored it 117-115 and 115-110 in favor of Cho, while a third judge carded
116-112 for Penalosa.
``He was slower than usual and was not so aggressive today,'' said Cho, who avenged 14 losses suffered by South Korean boxers at the hands of the Filipino. ''My straights and hooks worked well.''
Cho took the initiative from the beginning by landing a telling right straight on Penalosa's jaw before the bell in the first round. He sent Penalosa reeling when he countered a missing blow from his opponent with a left hook.
Penalosa, who had to hurriedly shed weight to reach the limit of 52.16 kilograms (115 pounds), was on the defense throughout the match. With his face bleeding from a 4th round head-butt, Penalosa launched an aggressive attack with hooks in the last two rounds, but failed to pin down the quick-footed South Korean.
Cho, 29, now has 13 wins, seven of them KOs. Penalosa's record now stands at 39 wins, including 24 KOs, two losses and one draw.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved