GERRY PENALOSA

updated April 25, 2009

Perhaps the most technically gifted fighter to ever hail from the Philippines, former super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa is looking to make history by returning from an almost two year long layoff to win a second world title in a new weight class -- junior featherweight.

And if past history is any indication, you can never count out the man known as "Fearless".

Born Geronimo Penalosa on August 7, 1972, Penalosa was 11 years old when his older brother, Dodie Boy Penalosa, won the IBF world light flyweight title with a ninth round stoppage of Jae Hong Kim. Five years later, Gerry made his professional debut and began on his road to a championship by knocking out Fidel Jubay in five rounds on May 20, 1989.

Obviously gifted in the ring, this southpaw technician with the quick combinations and stiff left hand made noise early in his pro career, winning the vacant IBF intercontinental light flyweight title in just his ninth fight by outpointing Rachmat Basuki over 12 rounds on January 18, 1990.

Penalosa's smooth sailing continued until August of 1992, when he lost his first fight via a disputed split decision to Philippine bantamweight champion Samuel Duran, a 42 fight veteran.

Determined not to have another defeat on his record, Penalosa went on a 21 fight unbeaten streak that lasted six years. Along the way he won the WBC super flyweight title by decisioning Hiroshi Kawashima on February 20, 1997, and successfully defending the crown three times.

By now, boxing fans and Penalosa were demanding a showdown against highly-touted American Johnny Tapia, but unfortunately, that fight never materialized. Penalosa was upset by this turn of events, and with his focus disrupted, he lost his title in August of 1998 via split decision to In Joo Cho, and also dropped the rematch via split decision 16 months later.

Still determined to get his crown back, Penalosa kept fighting and winning, but when he would get his final two shots at a super flyweight title, in 2001 and 2002, he would lose close decisions to new titlist Masamori Tokuyama.

Discouraged at his inability to get a close decision rendered in his favor, Penalosa retired from the game after his December 2002 rematch with Tokuyama.

It was just the break he needed, and after returning to the sweet science almost two years later with a second round TKO of Samingkao Chutipol on September 19, 2004, Penalosa has been unstoppable, and with renowned trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, boxing insiders believe the sky's the limit for the 34-year old, who stopped highly regarded contender Mauricio Martinez in his last outing on October 21, 2006.

On March 17th, 2007, Penalosa showed young gun Daniel Ponce De Leon a few tricks in their WBO super bantamweight championship bout, but fell short via a disputed 12 round decision. The bout was so controversial that upon Penalosa's return to the 118 pound weight class, he was granted another WBO title shot, this one on August 11th against Jhonny Gonzalez. This time, Penalosa will do his best to make sure the bout doesn't get left in the judges' hands.