After Quick Rise and Quick Fall, Pena Seeks a New Start

Fourteen months ago, Los Angeles flyweight Pedro Pena would have laughed at the thought of retiring from boxing. But that was before he suffered two defeats, parted ways with two trainers and took three months off to ponder his future.

Now, retirement doesn’t seem so funny to Pena, the former No. 2-ranked flyweight in the world and national Golden Gloves champion. At a press conference to promote tonight’s 10-round main event at the Arrowhead Pond against Oxnard’s Carlos Madrigal, Pena said he might have rushed success.

“It might have come too soon,” Pena said of his International Boxing Federation title fight against Irene Pacheco last January. “The next time I fight for a world title, I’ll be ready.”

Pena (18-2, 11 knockouts) apparently wasn’t ready for Pacheco, who beat him on an 11th-round knockout. If he doesn’t defeat Madrigal, he might not get another title shot. After losing to Marcos Badillo last July on a ninth-round technical knockout, Pena’s world ranking dropped to 33rd.

“If he beats Madrigal, it’s a good win,” said Tom Loeffler, Pena’s manager. “We’d look to move him up against a world-class opponent. If he loses, he’s got to consider what he’s going to do.”

He would have preferred to delay that decision a few more months. But by taking the Madrigal fight, he doesn’t have that luxury. Madrigal, who fights out of the famous La Colonia Boxing Club, has won 14 of his last 15 bouts after losing his pro debut.

“This is not an easy fight by any means,” Loeffler said. “But we might as well find out now. Pedro’s either going to be a world class fighter or he’s not going to continue to fight. He doesn’t want to be an average fighter or a club fighter.”

Pena will enter the ring with new trainer, Mike Vital. He left Frank Rivera after the Pacheco loss and he briefly used his father Roberto as a cornerman. He has not fought since his loss to Badillo eight months ago. Loeffler said the Badillo fight was a mistake.

“Badillo was a 122 pounder and a lefty and Pedro is a 115-pounder,” Loeffler said. “We were a last-day replacement. It wasn’t the right fight for us.”

But Madrigal believes Pena is the right fight for him, even if it isn’t for Pena’s United States Boxing Assn. title.

“He’s the two-time USBA champion and former No. 2 in the world, I think this will be one of the best fights of the year,” he said. “We’re both sluggers. It could end in a knockout. If it does, I expect it will be mine.”

THE UNDERCARD

The five-bout undercard will be highlighted by the vastly improved middleweight, Sergio Mora of Montebello. Mora (3-0), coming off a sparking four-round performance against Charles Blake of Escondido two months ago, faces Sean Holley (3-7) of Pasadena in a four-rounder.

“My first fight, I was overconfident and overanxious and my second fight I moved too much,” Mora said. “My last fight, I finally felt comfortable.”

In a four-round heavyweight bout, bar owner Philip Reynolds will make his debut against Michael Bliss (0-1) of Las Vegas. Reynolds, who owns two “bikini bars” in Garden Grove and Westminster, is a graduate of Savanna High and a former California Golden Gloves champion.

WESTMINSTER GYM SAVED

Trainer Richard Garcia wasn’t looking to acquire a gym. But when he walked into the Westminster Boxing Club and saw the doors being boarded up, Garcia quickly changed his mind.

“I knew if the doors closed, they wouldn’t open again,” he said. “I didn’t have much time to think about it.”

The 20-year-old gym, which turned out top amateurs Raul Franco and Javier Mora, had been having financial problems for some time. Harvey Duarte, former executive director of Westminster’s board, said the United Way’s monthly contributions and private donations were not enough to cover the building’s rent and utilities.

“The lease ran out in January and we realized we weren’t going to make it through another lease, so we decided to shut down and sell the equipment,” Duarte said.

Enter Garcia, who signed a two-year lease with former pro Mike Semaza and purchased new punching bags, boxing gloves and ring ropes. He also has the changed the gym’s name to The World Famous Westminster Boxing Club.

Garcia said he wants to make his gym more kid-friendly.

“Before we had kids coming and going and we had a lot of the trainers working with professionals,” he said. “I want the kids to be welcome.”

Garcia, who owns a custom drapery and bed spread company in Orange, said he will charge adults $40 for monthly dues and children $25.

“We’re looking for people to sponsor the kids and help them with their dues,” Garcia said. “This is going to be a bear, but I’ll do the best I can.”