Daily Tribune‘Hard training is over. We are just going through the motions and making sure that everything is in order.’
World champ Pedro Taduran (left) and trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr. chill at the lobby of their hotel in Osaka.
Photograph courtesy of Pedro Taduran
There is a sense of serenity in Carl Peñalosa Jr.’s face as he enters the final days of his job as trainer to one of just two reigning Filipino world boxing champions.
“I am in relax mode now,” Peñalosa told DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday as he was waiting for the ride that will bring him and champion Pedro Taduran to a gym for an open media workout in Osaka.
Taduran is set to risk the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown against Ginjiro Shigeoka this Saturday at the INTEX Osaka.
Peñalosa, brother of two-division world titleholders Dodie Boy and Gerry, said Taduran is on point.
“Hard training is over. We are just going through the motions and making sure that everything is in order,” he said.
Since checking in at Hotel Nikko, Taduran has been doing light workouts and Tuesday’s open session will be no different.
“Making weight is our primary concern now although I don’t have any concerns over it because Taduran is right on track,” Peñalosa added.
“108 (pounds) coach,” Taduran said when asked by Peñalosa what the scales read earlier in the day.
The division limit is 105 pounds and with three days before the official weighin, there is no reason to press the panic button.
In the next two days, Taduran will do his morning roadwork in Dotonbori and probably stay indoors in the afternoon.
Taduran is not taking Shigeoka lightly even though he had him in bad trouble the first time they rumbled in July last year when the Bicol-born banger knocked the IBF crown off the Japanese’ head in the ninth round of a bloody and bruising slugfest at the Daihatsu Arena in Otsu City.
Peñalosa swears Shigeoka will be extremely cautious in the rematch and might even opt to ride his bicycle in the hopes of outboxing and outmaneuvering Taduran.
“When the bell sounds for the first round, we will be pressing the attack right away. I am afraid of seeing the fight go to the scorecards,” he said.
“We are going for just one thing — a knockout.”
Making sure the whole team is humming are Elorde siblings Cucuy and Marty, who manage Taduran.
