Rey Saludar, the pride of Brgy.Una Davao Norte boxing team

7 years ago, then Congressman, TonyBoy Floirendo organized the Barangay
UNA Davao del Norte Boxing Team, an amateur boxing club whose members
became boxing scholars. The aim was to encourage talented boxers to use
their talents to get them through school and also to produce the country's
first Olympic gold.
3 of the 6 amateur boxers sent to Guangzhou, China to participate in the
16th Asian Games were Barangay UNA Boxing Team  mainstays - Charly Suarez
and the Saludar brothers Rey & Victorio. Happily Rey won the gold medal in
the flyweight division while Victorio earned the bronze. With this, we are
well on our way to achieving our goal of garnering an Olympic gold, hanks
to TonyBoy Floirendo's foresight.
Mindanao boxing...the country's hope for an Olympic gold! 

Brothers Victorio, Rey win Tampere boxing gold medals

TAMPERE, Finland — Two young brothers from Davao del Norte captured gold medals while two other Filipino bets settled for silvers as the PLDT-Abap national team matched the championship performance of its predecessor four years ago in the 31st Tammer Cup at the Pyynikkin Palloiluhalli Sports Hall here.

Victorio Saludar stamped his class over England’s Charlie Edwards, 7-3, en route to being named “Best Fighter” of the tournament, while Rey Saludar, two years older at 21, swamped Portugal’s Pedro Matos, 6-0.

The last time the Philippines participated here was in 2006 with Joan Tipon and Violito Payla bringing home gold medals.

Top Filipino bet Charly Suarez and Delfin Boholts fell short in their bids to complete a Philippine sweep.

Finnish superstar Matti Koota wrote finis to the lofty Filipino expectations as he masterfully countered everything thrown at him by Suarez to snap the Philippine run by a stunning 6-0 win.

Suarez appeared anxious from the onset and missed a lot of shots in going after the slick Finnish, who displayed deft counter-punching and suave moves that frustrated the Filipino no end.

Suarez’s best friend, Boholst, went the same route. The Gingoog City native could not seem to get his game going versus Ross Hickey and eventually bowed to the Irish fighter, 2-1.

The two-gold, two-silver performance of the Philippines was nonetheless the best among all participants as none was able to come close to the Filipino feat of getting all their four boxers in the finals.

Host Finland and France were second with three finalists each.(pr)

Philippines with most number of Finalists in Tammer Cup

Tampere, Finland- The Philippines has the most number of boxers in the finals of the 31st Tammer Cup. All four fighters sent by PLDT-ABAP made it to the gold medal round Sunday, October 17 at the Pyynikkin Palloiluhalli Sports Hall in Tampere. 

The fights start at 2 p.m. (7 p.m. Manila time).

Charly Suarez, Delfin Boholst and the brothers Saludar- Rey and Victorio take on their respective rivals in the tournament which was first held in 1977. 

Suarez takes on Matti Koota of Finland, Delfin Boholst's light welterweight match is against Ross Hickey of Ireland while Rey Saludar disputes the gold with Pedro Matos of Portugal. His younger brother Victorio has Charlie Edwards of England as finals foe.

Two countries have 3 protagonists in the gold medal hunt-Finland and France while Germany got 2 boxers in. 8 countries have 1 representation apiece- Russia, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, Azerbaijan, England, Kazakhstan and Sweden.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson reports the Filipino simon-pures are the toast of the tournament."So many people come up to us to congratulate us, wish us well and even ask if they could train in the Philippines! But we're focused on the task ahead...to soak up as much knowledge as we can and if fate allows it, to bring home some golden presents to our countrymen."

The last time the Philippines participated here  was in 2006 with Joan Tipon and Violito Payla bringing home the gold.(pr)Tammer

Victorio & Rey Saludar, Suarez, Boholst in finals

All 4 RP bets reach gold medal bouts in Finland

Victorio & Rey Saludar, Suarez, Boholst in finals



Tampere, Finland – The warmth of four silver medals – for now at
least – should be enough to keep the explosive fists of the PLDT-ABAP
National Boxing Team in the shivery 31st Tammer Cup here blazing all
the way to the Asian Games in Guangahou next month.

One after the other, Victorio Saludar, Charly Suarez, Delfin
Boholst and Rey Saludar marched into the gold medal fight by carving out pulsating
semifinal victories that propelled them into what could be the richest
medal harvest ever for the Philippines in this prestigious tournament.

The last time the Philippines participated here was in 2006 when Joan Tipon and Violito

Payla both struck gold. They repeated their golden feat in the Doha Asian Games 

that year.

The younger Saludar rallied from a 1-0 deficit to shock Russian Artem Ivaschenko,
4-1; Suarez showed too much class against Finnish Petteri Frojdholm,
7-2, in their 56-kilogram encounter; and Boholst broke the hearts of
the hometown crowd a second time by shutting down Jarkko Putkonen,
6-0, in the 64-kilogram class.

In the late afternoon session, Rey Saludar likewise had to come up with a big finish 

to upend a wily Irish lad, Declan Gerraghty, final score at 8-5.

“A great effort by our boxers, truly inspiring and heartwarming,” said
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed
Picson, who headed the Philippine delegation in the 31st year of the tournament
held at the Pyynikin Palloiluhallissa Sports Hall.

"Our main goal here was to have a tough tune-up for the coming Asian
Games. I think we're getting that,” he said. “If we win a gold medal
or four, that would be a welcome bonus."

Victorio Saludar will face England’s Charlie Edwards in the finals,
while Suarez will go up against Finland’s Matti Koota. Rey Saludar will

have Perro Matos of Portugal as his foe. Boholst’s
opponent has yet to be determined.

The trip here is the last leg of the "Road to Asian Games" blueprint
designed by ABAP president Ricky Vargas and given all-out support by
multi-industry mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of ABAP and
telecommunications giant PLDT.

The long road started with box-offs in Baguio and Manila, training
camps and tournaments in China and the United States and an
international tournament in Manila-the MVP Cup.(pr)

Four for Four!

Four for Four!

Tampere, Finland- The PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Team wrapped up its campaign in the quarterfinal round of the 31st Tammer Cup here with a perfect slate as Flyweight Rey Saludar reprised his younger brother Victorio's earlier stoppage of a boxer from UAE Friday evening.

This time the victim was Ahmed Al Mesmari, also from the UAE, who got his third standing 8-count with 1:39 left in the first round. Amateur boxing rules call for an automatic halt to a match when one boxer is given the standing count 3 times in a round.

Mesmari actually gamely tried to engage Saludar toe-to-toe but that proved to be his undoing as he absorbed a rainfall of power shots from the Filipino army man. He probably did not want to go down the way his compatriot did against Victorio, without landing a single punch. He did throw a number of shots, but none were on target.

Earlier in the day, top Filipino bet Charly Suarez hurdled tough Russian Anatoly Borkeev in a battle of defensive savvy in the 56 Kg class that Suarez won by sheer grit and a load of patience, 2-1. 

"I felt I could beat him if I didn't lose my focus. It was a game of endurance and he blinked at least twice", said the 22 year-old Davao native in the vernacular. He faces Petteri Fjordholm of host country Finland in the semis.

Muscle-toned Light Welterweight Delfin Boholst likewise took the measure of Scotland's James Easton, opening up an early 2-0 lead. Easton however closed the gap, 2-1 in the seocnd round when the Gingoog City native seemed over-eager to score an abbreviated win. In the third round, Boholst settled down and displayed clinical precision as he scored clean shots for a convincing 4-1 win. His opponent in the semis is another Finnish boxer, Jarkko Potkonen who edged France's Hassan Amzile in the quarters, 2-1.

Victorio Saludar will try to get into the Finals of the prestigious tournament. Standing in his way is Artem Ivaschenko of Russia who eked out a 3-2 win last Thursday over Hungary's Robert Kanalas.

Rey Saludar has Declan Garraghty in the penultimate day of the tournament being held at the Pyynikin Palloiluhallissa Sports Hall in this charming northern city of Tampere.

Delegation head Ed Picson, executive director of ABAP was cautiously optimistic:"Our main goal here is to have a tough tune-up for the coming Asian Games. I think we're getting that. If we win a gold medal or four, that would be a welcome bonus."

The trip here is the last leg of the "Road to Asian Games" blueprint designed by ABAP president Ricky Vargas and given all-out support by multi-industry mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of ABAP and telecommunications giant PLDT. The long road started with box-offs in Baguio and Manila, training camps and tournaments in China and the United States and an international tournament in Manila-the MVP Cup.(pr)

V Saludar RSC winner vs UAE

Tampere, Finland- As snow gently blanketed this quaint industrial city 170 kilometers north of Helsinki, Victorio Saludar, 19, warmed up the opening day of the 31st Tammer Cup Thursday evening with a short but methodical demolition of Al Mas Dhandhani of the United Arab Emirates.

Saludar, the youngest of the PLDT-ABAP team of four nationals here, used barely a minute of fight time in disposing of his startled foe. At the get-go, he went after the startled Arab with a flurry of punches that forced his opponent to back up against his own corner only to be deluged with more punishment. The referee from England then issued the first of two standing 8-counts just a little over half a minute into the match.

The UAE fighter tried to make a fight of it as he emerged from the count, but the young pugilist from Polomolok, South Cotabato and the rich boxing stable of Barangay Una in Panabo, Davao del Norte resumed his relentless attack that had his adversary again back-pedaling into the ropes where the referee shortly stopped the brief carnage, 1:51 left in the first round. 

The amused crowd at the Pynikki Palloiluhalissa Stadium broke out in wild applause for the stunning performance of the young Filipino. Many  were overheard mentioning the name of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao amidst  a cacophony of languages.

Executive Director Ed Picson, who heads the Philippine delegation here with coaches Roel Velasco and Ronald Chavez, was not surprised. "We get that a lot. People everywhere identify our boxers with Pacquiao. We don't mind, obviously. We're proud to be associated with him", referring to the 7-division boxing title-holder who graciously allowed the PLDT-ABAP team to observe his rigorous closed-door training in Baguio a few days before the team's departure for Finland.

With the win, Saludar earned a slot in the semi-finals on Saturday against Russian Artem Ivaschenko, a 3-2 decision winner over Robert Kanalas of Hungary, assuring him of at least a bronze medal finish.

Friday sees Charly Suarez (56 Kg) seeing action against Anatoly Bokreev of Russia, Light Welterweight Delfin Boholst versus Scot Jason Easton and Rey Saludar seeing action for the first time against another fighter from the UAE, Ahmed Al Mesmari in the 52 Kg category.

The tournament, started in 1977, counts among its illustrious alumni the likes of Mike Tyson and Oscar de la Hoya. The Tammer Cup  drew 22 countries this year with 92 boxers. It ends Sunday.[pr]

RP boxing team meets Pacman before leaving for Tammer Cup

BOXING icon Manny Pacquiao, center,  accepts a souvenir national team shirt from the PLDT-ABAP boxers bound for the Tammer Cup in Finland and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Standing from left are: Delfin Boholst, Coach Roel Velasco, Charly Suarez, Victorio Saludar, Coach Ronald Chavez, Rey Saludar, RP women's team manager Karina Picson, Head Coach Pat Gaspi, and ABAP executive director Ed Picson. Seated in front are Coach Nolito Velasco and Annie Albania.[ABAP]







The Philippine National Boxing Team was among the handful of people allowed entry into the closed-door training session of world Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao in Baguio City Saturday.

Famed trainer Freddie Roach acceded to the request of ABAP officials Patrick Gregorio and Ed Picson who motored to Baguio City to oversee the final preparations of the boxers leaving for the prestigious Tammer Cup in Tampere, Finalnd this Tuesday.

Pacquiao had earlier assured ABAP officials that he would help in the training of our national boxers.

“Having our boxers observe firsthand the work ethic and intensity Pacquiao brings to his training sessions is more than enough to inspire our boxers and give them an idea of what the keys to success are. I just hope these sunk in”, commented Picson after Pacquiao’s grueling 2 1/2-hour session at the Shape-Up Gym .

Roach and conditioning expert  Alex Ariza have also pledged to visit the ABAP training camp in Baguio City to share their training and conditioning drills and techniques with the nationals.

“This can only redound to the benefit of our boxers. We thank Manny and his coaches for their enthusiasm in lending a hand to the team”, said Gregorio.

Boxers Victorio and Rey Saludar, Charly Suarez, products of the Brgy.Una Boxing Program founded by former Davao del Norte congressman Tony Boy Floirendo Jr. in Panabo City (Davao del Norte) before joining the national team, and Delfin Boholst leave on Tuesday for Finland for the prestigious Tammer Cup which has lured 23 participating countries, mostly European.

“We want to be exposed to the European style because some of our opponents in the Asian Games like the Kazakhs and the Uzbeks have similar styles”, according to Picson.

Annie Albania and Wilfredo Lopez will join them in November for the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China.[pr]

Edrin Dapudong's wounds shown by Braveheart Boxing Club manager Manny Pinol

WBC RING OFFICIALS' SECGEN AGREES EDRIN DAPUDONG'S WOUNDS 'UNUSUAL'

Veteran boxing referee Bruce Mctavish of New Zealand, the World Boxing Council (WBC) secretary general for ring officials, today said the wounds suffered by former WBC silver flyweight champion Edrin Dapudong of the Philippines shown in a video posted on YouTube (http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=5pSYPxDcdrY) and photos sent to him appeared "unusually deep" and could not have been caused by the gloves' lace or the ring ropes.



"They are unusual and looking at the video and the pictures, there's no way they could have been caused by the lace of the gloves or the ring ropes," Mctavish told Dapudong's manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol in an overseas phone conversation.



Mctavish, who has been delivering lectures for WBC ring officials during the annual convention for the last nine years, made the assessment after receiving the pictures and appreciating the video posted on YouTube.com.



He promised to take up the issue in the forthcoming WBC Annual Convention in Cancun, Mexico in November.



Dapudong, who clearly lost to challenger Wilbert Uicab of Mexico in 12 rounds, sustained the cuts during the fight Sept. 17 in Cancun. It was cutman Jeff de Gizman who first noticed the unusual cuts in Dapudong's right arm and shoulder during the fight. A deeper examination showed the injures included six deep laceratrions similar to wounds sustained from a sharp blade.



"I am not complaining against the result of the fight. The officials were fair and Edrin lost clearly. But I am raising this issue to prevent incidents like this from happening again," Pinol told Mctavish.



Pinol, who earlier wrote WBC Secretary General Mauricio Sulaiman officially through WBC International head Mauro Betti, made two recommendations to ensure the safety of the boxers which included 1) diligent and careful examination of all parts of the boxers' gloves to ensure that no sharp objects would be embedded in the lace and the diligent and careful "touching and inspection" of the ring ropes, especially the highest strand, by the referee.



Mctavish told Pinol that he appreciated the boxing manager's decision to come out in the open to expose the Cancun incident to ensure a safer conduct of boxing events.



The last controversy involving dirty tricks in boxing was the attempted use of the plaster of paris, which hardens like a rock which wet, by Antonio Margarito in a fight against Shane Mosley. Margarito was suspended by the California Boxing Commission following the discovery.



"I will certainly include your recommendations in our discussions during the ring officials conference in the coming (WBC) convention in Cancun," Mctavish assured Pinol.(pr)

HUMBLE AND UNASSUMING DAPUDONG IMPRESSES MEXICANS

World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong woke up to a sunny Monday in Cancun, Mexico today and spent nearly one hour in an interview with popular radio and television host David Romero over the Carribean Radio, impressing the Mexicans with his humble demeanor and respectful view of the skills and strength of his challenger, Mexican flyweight champion Wilbert "Hurricane" Uicab.

 

"Muy simple," said the young Alejandro Garcia, son of HG Boxing Promotions owner Hector Garcia, who is co-promoting this fight with Quintana Roo newspaper publisher Pepe Gomez who is also the manager of the challenger Uicab.

 

Instead of making a prediction on the outcome of the fight and bragging on what round the knockout will occur, the 24-year-old champion, also known as the "Barefoot Boxing Prince," simply assured Mexican boxing fans and the promoters that he came to Cancun better prepared than he was when he fought and knocked out Jesus "Zurdito" Jimenez in Nayarit, Mexico last June 19.

 

"I prepared hard for this fight and I am confident of my chances to win. But I have a lot of respect for my opponent as all of us Filipino boxers respect Mexican fighters," Dapudong told Romero whose radio program is widely followed not only in Cancun and in all of the eastern part of the country facing the Carribean Sea.

 

Dapudong's humble demeanor impressed Pepe Gomez, the 42-year-old publisher of Quequi, a popular tabloid in Mexico.

 

Asked whether he could predict what round he will knockout Uicab, Dapudong said: "When I fight, I do not usually think of a knockout. But if there is an opportunity to do it, I will take it."

 

The fighter from M'lang, North Cotabato who dropped out of college to pursue his boxing career told Romero that he thinks inside the ring adding "I assess my opponent every round."

 

"I saw Uicab's previous fight on YouTube but I do not think he will move in the same way when he fights me just as they should not expect me to use the same strategy I used against Jimenez," Dapudong said.

 

In his fight against the former World No. 1 flyweight, Dapudong carried the fight to Jimenez pursuing the Mexican from the start of the bell in the first round and caught him with a wicked left hook that dropped Jimenez with barely 2 minutes into the fight. As soon as the Mexican fighter stood up, the Filipino fighter swarmed all over Jimenez and knocked him out with a thunderous right to the body.

 

Uicab is reputedly a strong fighter but he is a lot shorter than the 5' 5" tall Dapudong. The Filipino also has a longer reach.

 

Still, Mexican boxing fans are expecting Uicab to continue the winning streak of Mexican fighters against the Filipinos. So far, the Mexicans have scored at least six stunning victories during the last six months over Filipinos as against a few wins scored by the fighters from the Philippines including the victories of Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes and Dapudong in Tepic City.

 

The Dapudong-Uicab encounter, dubbed here as the Carribean Rumble, will be held at the Cancun Convention Center, in the heart of this beautiful resort city. It will be televised live in the Americas by ESPN on its Friday Night Live sports program.(pr)

Trainer Noli Pinol Tells Edrin: "Let's Prove Them Wrong!"

With only a week to go before flyweight champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) silver title against Mexican flyweight champion Wilbert Uicab in Cancun, Mexico, Braveheart Boxing Club's chief trainer Noli Pinol is starting to feel the heavy burden on both his and Dapudong's shoulders.

 

"I know many skeptics are thinking that you were just lucky when you knocked out Jesus Jimenez last June 19 and they are expecting you to fall in the way of the other flash-in-the-pan boxing heroes," Noli, younger brother of BBC owner Manny Pinol, told Edrin as he was warming up prior to hitting the mitts held by BBC co-trainer and conditioning coach Justin Fortune at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood Friday.

 

"Let's prove them wrong. Let's go out there on Sept. 17 and prove to all doubters that you are for real," Noli told his boxer.

 

But Noli does not take it against the skeptics.

 

"Of course, we can't blame them. Many boxers have been paraded in the media as the next Manny Pacquiao only to wilt under pressure," he said as he rattled off the names of Marvin Sonsona, Bernabe Concepcion, Richie Mepranum, Rodel Mayol and even Ciso Morales, all of whom have fallen in the wayside in the face of far superior opponents.

 

Noli said he is confident that the 24-year-old farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato, called the "Barefoot Boxing Prince" by journalist Recah Trinidad, has what it takes to be a reliable carrier of the Philippines boxing torch.

 

"Mas preparado si Bungis (Dapudong's nickname) ngayon kaysa noong lumaban sya kay Jimenez," Noli said. (Bungis is better prepared now than when he fought Jimenez.)

 

Early in June this year, Dapudong was asked to come in as a last minute opponent for Mexican No. 1 Pound for Pound fighter and World Ranked No. 1 Jesus "Zurdito" Jimenez for the vacant WBC Silver Flyweight title, formerly known as the Interim Title.

 

With barely two weeks to prepare, three days of which he spent queueing up at the US embassy in Manila to apply for a transit visa, Dapudong shocked Mexican boxing when he knocked out Jimenez in the first round of a scheduled 12.

 

That feat propelled the virtually unknown fighter from North Cotabato to greater heights. The US-based boxrec.com, the international boxing website that keeps records and ranks fighters worldwide based on their performances, ranked the 5' 5" tall Dapudong No. 3 Pound for Pound in the Philippines after Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.

 

Boxrec.com also ranked Dapudong No. 3 best flyweight in the world.

 

In spite of these rankings, however, Dapudong's talent remains unappreciated. While the TV rights for the fights of the flash-in-the-pan boxing heroes were gobbled up instantly by big television networks in the Philippines, ESPN is still peddling the TV rights of the Dapudong-Uicab championship bout with less than 10 days to go before the fight.

 

But all these things, Noli is taking in stride.

 

"Sige lang. The time will come when people will realize that the boxers coming from North Cotabato who are not as known as the fighters from Cebu and Manila, will prove to the Filipino boxing fans that they deserve a second look," said Noli.

 

Noli is confident that the deep boxing foundation of the fighters from North Cotabato will help them excel.

 

"Dapudong is not somebody whom we discovered last week. He is a product of a 12 year program started by then Gov. Manny Pinol," he said. "After Dapudong, there are more fighters coming up because it is a continuing program. North Cotabato will be the source of the next world champions to be produced by the Philippines," Noli added.

 

In the meantime, Noli and Dapudong are focused on preparing for the Sept. 17 title fight against the slugger Uicab who is fighting in his own turf and would have the advantage of the support of the hometown crowd.

 

"Mas masarap ang panalo kung dehado ka," he said. (Victory is sweeter when you are the underdog.)

 

Is he a flash-in-the-pan? Dapudong will provide the answer on Sept. 17.(pr)

Justin Fortune sees good fortune for Edrin Dapudong

Justin Fortune, the former conditioning coach of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, is not a fortune teller but he says that World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong would reign supreme in the 108 and 112 pound divisions for a long time.

 

"He has the power and the heart," he said of the 24-year-old fighter known as the "Barefoot Boxing Prince", the first of the five senior boxers of the Braveheart Boxing Club (BBC) of North Cotabato who will be handled by the former heavyweight contender as co-trainer and conditioning coach of the fighters of former governor Manny Pinol.

 

Fortune, who started the fine-tuning of the 5' 5"-tall Dapudong (23 wins, 13 KOs, 2 losses) prior to his first title defense of the WBC flyweight title, formerly known as the Interim Championship, against Mexican flyweight champion Wilbert Uicab on Sept. 17 in Cancun, Mexico, said what particularly impresses him is the heart of the Filipino fighter.

 

"He is tough and tall for a flyweight," Fortune said.

 

Yesterday, in the Maywood Gym in Maywood, California, the fighter from Mlang, North Cotabato stood toe to toe against undefeated bantamweight Leo Santa Cruz for six rounds. Wearing 16-ounce gloves as against the 14-ounce sparring mitts of the taller and bigger Santa Cruz, Dapudong traded punches with the Mexican-American bantamweight prospect in a well-applauded sparring witnessed by former world junior flyweight champion Brian Viloria who also trains at the Maywood Gym.

 

"That's a good work out for him. That sheds off all the jetlag," Fortune said. Later yesterday afternoon, Dapudong made a rapid 40-minute run at the Griffith Park in Los Angeles, favorite running area of Manny Pacquiao, under the supervision of BBC chief trainer Noli Pinol, younger brother of the former governor.

 

Dapudong will work on the mitts at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood today and go back to the Maywood Gym on Friday (Saturday in Manila) for his last sparring session prior to the championship fight on Sept. 17.

 

Fortune, who works closely with Noli Pinol on Dapudong's preparation for the first title defense, has decided against the earlier plan for Dapudong and his group to travel to Cancun on Sunday, Sept. 12.

 

"I still have some work to do on Dapudong so that when he goes up the ring on Sept. 17, he will be a greatly improved fighter," said Fortune. He said he will not take any chances in the preparation of Dapudong since it is a very important fight for the Filipino champion.

 

Based on Fortune's recommendation, Pinol has asked Dapudong's promoters, Sampson Lewkowicz and Sammy Gelloani, to move back the team's trip to Cancun to Sept. 14, three days before the actual fight.

 

Joining Dapudong in the trip to Cancun are retired police colonel Pat Pinol, older brother of the former governor, former national cylist Rolly Hiso and his wife, who have long supported the boxers from North Cotabato and LA-based Fil-am nurse Jeff de Guzman  who will work as cutman. The former governor and his brother, Pat, will fly ahead of the team on Sept. 12.

 

Fortune said he is focusing now on Dapudong's defense and endurance given the hot climate in Mexico which earlier almost sapped the strength of world miniflyweight champion Donnie Nietes in a recent fight in Sinoloa.

 

"We will not take chances. By the time Bungis (Dapudong's nickname) climbs the ring on Sept. 17, he will be prepared and ready to go to battle for 12 rounds," Fortune said.

 

 After Dapudong, Fortune will next work on undefeated featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 23 (18 wins, 17 KOs), who is fighting Alejandro Perez on Oct. 8 in the City of Ontario, bantamweights Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 25 (17 wins, 1 loss, 13 KOs) and Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 24 (23 wins, 14 KOs, 2 losses) and Oriental miniflyweight champion Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 21 (20 wins, 17 KOs, 2 losses).(pr)

WBC Flyweight Champ Edrin Dapudong Leaves for US, Mexico

World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver Champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, the Philippines No. 3 Pound-for-Pound Best Boxer, leaves on Sept.4 for the United States two weeks ahead of his scheduled title defense against NABO and Mexican Flyweight Champion Wilbert "Hurricane" Uicab in Cancun, Mexico Sept. 17.

Dapudong, 24, a product of the grassroots boxing program of former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol and the province's first world champion,  will be accompanied by his manager, Manny Pinol, and chief trainer, Noli Pinol.

The team will be flying in through San Francisco for a one-day stop-over and rest in Salinas Valley before proceeding to Los Angeles to continue their training and conditioning at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood owned by Manny Pacquiao's former conditioning coach Justin Fortune.

On Sept. 12, the team will proceed to Cancun, one week ahead of scheduled to ensure that Dapudong will be able to acclimatize well and get adjusted to the conditions in Mexico.

"We do not want a repeat of the last experience of Edrin where he arrived in Tepic City only two days before the scheduled fight with Jesus Jimenez," said Manny Pinol.

Dapudong, called the "Barefoot Boxing Prince" by journalist Recah Trinidad, fought Jimenez on June 19 in Tepic City with only a two-week notice. He spent three days of the two week preparation lining up before the US embassy to obtain a transit visa.

He, however, surprised everyone in Mexico when he knocked out Jimenez in the first round of a scheduled 12-round bout.

"We are better prepared now," said chief trainer Noli who has supervised the 2-month preparation of Dapudong for the first title defense.

International promoter Sampson Lewkowicz who handles the fights of Dapudong has earlier committed that a victory by Dapudong over Uicab could lead to bigger fights against more popular fighters.

While considered as one of the best Filipino fighters now and rated No. 3 Pound for Pound in the Philippines by boxrec.com and No. 3 best flyweight fighter in the world, the unassuming and humble 5' 6" tall Dapudong is largely unknown to many boxing fans.

The fight against Uicab will be carried live by ESPN and will be shown in the morning of Sept. 18.(pr)

Asenjo Destroys Tejares in 1st But 17-year-old Lumacad Steals Show

Magpet, North Cotabato, Aug. 11 - World Boxing Organization Miniflyweight Oriental Champion Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo demolished flyweight Rodel Tejares in less than one round of a scheduled 10-round bout Wednesday but it was the 17-year-old former national youth amateur champion Joemer Lumacad who became the star of the night as he displayed exceptional boxing talent and brilliantly dominated his opponent to win his first four-round bout by a shut-out.

 

Asenjo, 21, who is being groomed for a big fight abroad by international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, displayed tremendous power as he floored the bigger Tejares twice in the first round leading to the stoppage of the fight with just a little over two minutes into the round.

 

The lefthanded WBO Oriental champion, whose dream is to fight legendary Puerto Rican junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon, stalked Tejares right at the start of the first round and unleashed his vaunted left cross to score the first knockdown and finished off his opponent with relentless punching. It was Tejares' second loss to Asenjo. Their first bout staged two years ago when Asenjo was just a 6-round fighter also ended in a knockout in the second round.

 

While Asenjo showed his devastating power, the star of the show Wednesday night was 5' 6" tall Lumacad, who at 17 needed parental consent to appear in his first professional fight.

 

Displaying natural boxing talent, Lumacad slipped through the punches of Bukidnon's Ronel Brosas, who himself displayed decent boxing skills, and totally dominated the fight from start to finish.

 

The boxing show performed by the young Lumacad was so impressive that the crowd which was silenced in awe for four rounds broke into a thunderous applause after the match.

 

"That boy will be a world champion," said veteran boxing manager Bernard Yu of Agusan del Sur, manager of Brosas.

 

The Pinol brothers led by retired police colonel Patricio, mayors Efren and Joselito and Board Member Socrates were all pleased by the performance of the young Lumacad, the newest protege and a product of the amateur boxing program of former governor Manny Pinol.

 

Magpet town Mayor Efren Pinol who staged "Tomorrow's Champions" tournament Wednesday said Lumacad who weighed 110 lbs. but is expected to grow to be a lightweight was so natural in his movements inside the ring that he made the difficult sport of boxing so easy.

 

Lumacad will fight his second 4-round bout on August 29.

 

The complete results:

- Rommel Asenjo won over Rodel Tejares, KO 1st round 108 lbs.10 rds.

- Gary Lumacad won over Roel Garcia, KO 4th, 108 lbs., 6 rds.

- Rogelio Canete won over Marvin Camungay, TKO 1st rd., 115 lbs., 4 rds.

- Louie Yunting vs. Rodel Sungkit 4 rds 118 lbs. ended in No Decision after the 3rd

- Ronnie Apilado won over Efren Fernandez, TKO 4th, 4 rds., 122 lbs.

- Ronron Dalot won over Phil Francis Abanilla, SD, 4 rds., 112 lbs.

- Joemer Lumacad won over Ronel Bosas, UD, 4 rds., 110 lbs.

 

"Tomorrow's Champions" in Magpet was sponsored by Mayor Efren Pinol in observance of the foundation week of the municipality and supported by 

Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. of , San Miguel Corporation.(pr)

Pinol: boxrec.com ranks Dapudong No. 3 P4P in RP, World No. 3 Flyweight

BOXREC.COM Ranks Dapudong No. 3 P4P
In RP; World No. 3 Flyweight 


World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight Champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong has been ranked by boxing database websiteboxrec.com No. 3 Pound-For-Pound Filipino boxer today, after boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Jr. in its latest rating of prizefighters all over the world.

Boxrec.com, a US-based database website which keeps the records of all professional boxers in the world, also ranked the 24-year-old Dapudong World No. 3 Flyweight, after Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Japan's Daiki Kameda.

Dapudong's meteoric rise in the world rankings is mainly because of his sensational first round knockout of former world No. 1 flyweight Jesus Jimenez last June 19 in Mexico which won for the farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato the WBC Flyweight Silver title.

Here are the boxrec.com ratings:

Pound For Pound best boxer, Philipppines:
1. Manny Pacquiao, 53 wins, 38 KOs, 3 losses, 2 draws
2. Nonito Donaire, 24 wins, 16 KOs, 1 loss
3. Edrin Dapudong, 22 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
4. Michael Domingo, 40 wins, 18 KOs, 14 losses, 2 draws
5. Gerry Penalosa, 54 wins, 36 KOs, 8 losses, 2 draws
6. Bernabe Concepcion, 28 wins, 15 KOs, 4 losses
7. Rocky Fuentes, 26 wins, 16 KOs, 6 losses
8. Danilo Pena, 22 wins, 10 KOs, 7 losses
9. Malcolm Tunacao, 26 wins, 15 KOs, 2 losses
10. Rodel Mayol, 26 wins, 20 KOs, 5 losses

Prominent Filipino boxers who did not make it to the Top 10 of Philippines Pound-For-Pound best fighters were Drian Francisco (No. 12), AJ Banal (No. 14), Milan Melindo (No. 16), Donnie Nietes (No. 17) and Johnriel Casimiro (No. 23).

In its World Flyweight rankings, boxrec.com released this latest rating of the Top 10:
1. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand), 74 wins, 40 KOs, 3 losses, 4 draws
2. Daiki Kameda (Japan), 17 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
3. Edrin Dapudong (Philippines), 22 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
4. Denkaosan Kaovichit (Thailand), 50 wins, 20 KOs, 2 losses, 1 draw
5. Moruti Mthalane (South Africa), 25 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses
6. Luis Concepcion (Panaman). 20 wins, 15 KOs, 1 loss
7. Hiroyhuki Hisataka (Japan) 19 wins, 8 KOs, 8 losses
8. Tomonobu Shimizu (Japan) 17 wins, 8 KOs, 3 losses, 1 draw
9. Takefumi Sakata (Japan) 36 wins, 17 KOs, 5 losses, 2 draws
10. Rocky Fuentes (Philippines) 26 wins, 16 KOs, 6 losses, 2 draws

Other prominent flyweights who did not make it to the Top 10 were former world champion Edgar Sosa (No. 11), world flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda (No. 12), and former world champion Brian Viloria (No. 15).

Dapudong will defend his title Sept. 17 in Cancun, Mexico against Mexican and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) flyweight champion Wilbert Uicab, who is rated by boxrec.com No. 16 flyweight in the world. 

YOUNG BRAVEHEART PROSPECTS FIGHT IN 'TOMORROW'S CHAMPIONS' AUG. 11

The search for future world boxing champions continue on Aug. 11 when seven young boys from the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato, owned and managed by former governor Manny Pinol, will figure in "Tomorrow's Champions" boxing tournament staged in celebration of the foundation day of the town of Magpet in North Cotabato.

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Miniflyweight Champion Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 21, (19 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses) takes on flyweight Rodel Tejares in a 10-round non-title bout which is expected to be a tune up bout for the North Cotabato fighter in preparation for a big fight being arranged by international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and his local counterpart, Samson Gelloani.

Asenjo fought and defeated Tejares by knockout three years ago but the latter has moved up in weight and is now campaigning in the flyweight division.

"This will be a different story now because they will fight in a heavier weight category of 110 lbs. and that's a new territory for Asenjo," Manny Pinol said.

While Asenjo maybe the star of the night, boxing fans and observers will actually be watching out for six young fighters from the Braveheart Boxing Club, including former national youth champion Joemer Lumacad, 17, who will be fighting his first professional bout.

Joemer, 5' 6" tall and considered by Pinol as a top prospect, will be going up against another first timer from Bukidnon Province, Ronel Bosa, in four rounds in a 110-lb. fight.

The young Lumacad, who needed a parental consent to be able to take the fight on Tuesday, was a national youth champion in Bacolod City three years ago and is expected to grow up to the lightweight division.

In his last amateur fight in M'lang last week, he impressed no less than WBO vice president Leon Panoncillo and international matchmaker Samson Gelloani when he stopped his opponent in the first round.

Other young boys seeing action in the Aug. 11 card are: 

- Gary Lumacad versus Roel Garcia, 6 rounds, 108 lbs.
- Rolando Canete versus Marwin Kamungay, 4 rds., 115 lbs.
- Louie Yunting versus Rodel Sungkit, 4 rds., 118 lbs.
- Ronnie Apilado versus Jun Fernandez, 4 rds, 122 lbs.
- Phil Francis Abanilla versus Ronron Dalot. 4 rds., 112 lbs.

The Magpet Tomorrow's Champions event is sponsored by Magpet Mayor Efren Pinol.(pr)

Young Cotabato Prospect Awes WBO Veep

JOEMER LUMACAD

M'lang, North Cotabato - A 17-year-old former national amateur youth champion who is turning professional on Aug. 11 has impressed World Boxing Organization (WBO) vice president Leon Panoncillo following a first round stoppage win in an amateur bout held in this town Sunday, Aug. 1.

Bantamweight Joemer Lumacad, a southpaw who is 5' 6" tall, displayed natural boxing talents in disposing of his opponent in his last amateur bout prior to turning professional on Aug. 11.

"Very impressive. He will go places," said Panoncillo who came to M'lang to supervise the double WBO Oriental championships held in celebration of the town's foundation anniversary celebration Aug. 1 to 5.

Lumacad, who comes from New Antique fronting the vast Liguasan Marsh, a village frequently attacked by secessionist rebels in the past, was a member of the North Cotabato amateur boxing team which participated in the National Youth Championships in Bacolod City in 2008. He won the gold in the 48 kg. category.

His older brother, Gary who fights in the junior flyweight division, is also a professional boxer who won his fourth bout yesterday scoring a unanimous decision.

Former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol, who will be Joemer's manager, said the young Lumacad worked as a gasoline boy shortly after graduating from high school early this year.

"I was with Joemer when he won the gold in Bacolod but I actually forgot about him because of my previous involvement in politics. Last month, I remembered him when I saw his brother Gary and I was told that he was working as a gasoline boy in M'lang so I sent somebody to get him back to the gym," he said.

In his last amateur fight yesterday, Joemer displayed natural movement inside the ring and tremendous power as he staggered his opponent several times in the first round prompting the referee to stop the fight.

"Natural ang talent," said promoter Samson Gelloani, who also saw the fight of Lumacad yesterday.

Lumacad will fight his first 4-round bout on Aug. 11 in a boxing card sponsored by Magpet Mayor Efren Pinol.(pr)

Double WBO Oriental Fights: Villanueva Stops Bangoyan; Diale KOs Jabel

M'lang, North Cotabato - The Double World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental championships which featured two Braveheart boxers from North Cotabato ended in contrasts as featherweight champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva stopped challenger Balweg Bangoyan after the 6th round while young Jermie Jabel suffered a stunning 3rd round knockout from the hands of Ardin Diale in their fight for the vacant flyweight title.

Villanueva, 23, raw and awkward but tough, stood toe to toe with Bangoyan from the first round up to the end of the 6th taking everything that the challenger could dish out including thunderous punches to the midsection. He staggered Bangoyan several times and caused a huge swelling on the challenger's left face prompting the ring doctor to recommend to the referee, Tony Pesons, the stoppage of the fight after the 6th.

Officially, it will be a 7th round stoppage victory for the 5' 7" tall brawler from Midsayap town. Villanueva improved his record to 18 wins with 17 KOs and one No Decision.

Jermie Jabel, 22, the flyweight prospect from Pigcawayan town learned a painful lesson for the night when he fought the wrong fight and engaged the shorter but stronger Diale in a close quarter battle. Diale dropped Jabel with a short uppercut in the first round and Jabel was never able to recover.

Diale scored another knockdown in the second round before sending Jabel to the canvas in the 3rd for a full count by referee Bruce Mctavish.

"Jabel fought the wrong fight. I will have to sit down with the training staff to assess that fight and point out the flaws. Then maybe we will give him another chance and determine whether he still has what it takes to excel in this sport. Honestly, I am not very happy with this result because I feel that if he gets knocked out by somebody who had been knocked out by Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro, then that indicates that something is simply not right," said Braveheart Boxing Club owner and Jabel's manager, Manny Pinol.

"I pity the boy because I know how much he wanted to win. He certainly got an A for courage. But we will have to honest in our assessment. Boxing is a cruel sport. Compassion even for mediocre fighters has no room here," he added.

Villanueva, however, will be taking a different route according to the former North Cotabato governor who is now the acknowledged boxing patron of the area.

"Villanueva certainly has the heart and the power. But we really have to overhaul his fighting style. He is going to end up with a octagonal head if continues fighting the way he did tonight. A certain degree of boxing skills and art must be added to his fighting style," he said.

In other fights, Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 25, made a quick job of his comeback fight by scoring a first round knockout over Nikong Calamba while Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 24, cut down Jun Pader with powerful body punches right in the first round of the twin eight-round bouts in the bantamweight division.

Rey Juntilla, 21, struggled to win over Roberto Omela in 6 rounds while junior flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad, 22, and Francis Abanilla, 19, a flyweight won their respective 4 round fights.

The M'lang event was sponsored by Mayor Lito Pinol of M'lang, Mayor Efren Pinol of Magpet and San Miguel Corporation.(pr)

Double WBO Oriental Championships: Villanueva In Top Shape, Bangoyan Fails to Make Weight; Jabel-Diale Bout A Slambang Match

M'lang, North Cotabato - What was earlier expected to be an interesting match up between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight Champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva and former World Boxing Council (WBC) International jr. featherweight champion Balweg "Davao Hitman" Bangoyan lost some of its luster when the challenger failed to make the 1`26-pound weight limit for the 12-round championship bout.

While defending champion Villanueva, 23, weighed at 125 lbs., one pound lower than the weight limit, challenger Bangoyan tipped the scale at 130 lbs.

WBO Asia Pacific Vice President Leon Panoncillo who witnessed the weigh in said that under WBO rules the Villanueva-Bangoyan fight will still be staged as a championship bout. In the event Bangoyan wins, the title will be declared vacant. 

Bangoyan, under the WBO rules, will be required to wear a bigger pair of gloves weighing 10 ounces compared to the regular 8 ounces for the lower weight category fights.

This development prompted Panoncillo to declare that the WBO Oriental Flyweight championship between Jermie "The Worm" Jabel of North Cotabato and Manila's Arden Diale would now be elevated to be the main event. Jabel weighed 111.5 lbs. while Diale scaled 110 lbs., both well within the limit of 112 lbs. for the flyweight category.

Jabel, undefeated in 16 fights with 15 wins, 8 KOs and 1 draw, will be fighting for a regional title for the first time against the tough Diale, who earlier in his career fought two boxers who would later become world champions - Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro.

The WBO championship bouts will be held at the M'lang Municipal Gymnasium and is sponsored by M'lang Mayor Joselito Pinol and Magpet town Mayor Efren Pinol, both younger brothers of Braveheart Boxing Club owner Manny Pinol.

Other Braveheart boxers who will be seeing action Sunday are jr. featherweight Rolando Magbanua, bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras, jr. featherweight Rey "The Bull" Juntilla, junior flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad and Francis "The Panther" Abanilla.

The fights, staged in connection with the foundation anniversary of M'lang municipality.(pr)

All Set for Aug. 1 for Double WBO Oriental Championships in North Cotabato

VILLANUEVA

JABEL

This rustic town by the edge of the vast Liguasan Marsh is all set for the biggest boxing event to be held here - the double World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental championship on Aug. 1 featuring two of North Cotabato's upcoming boxing prospects.

 

The card, titled "Double Rumble: Survival of the Fittest" staged by North Cotabato's boxing patron Manny Pinol, features an all Filipino boxing card with WBO Oriental Featherweight champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 23, making his second title defense against world-ranked Balweg "Davao Hitman" Bangoyan, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight international champion fighting in the main event.

 

The other WBO Oriental champion is between undefeated Jermie "The Worm" Jabel, 22, against Manila's Arden Diale for the vacant flyweight diadem.

 

Both fights are set for 12 rounds but boxing experts are expecting shortened encounters in the two matchups given the records of the fighters. Villanueva, 5' 7", holds a record of 18 wins with 17 KOs and 0 loss while Bangoyan has a record of 15 wins, 8 KOs and one loss.

 

Jabel, 5' 6" tall and a former amateur standout has a record of 15 wins, 8 KOs and 1 draw while Diale who fought world champions Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro earlier in his career has 8 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws.

 

M'lang Mayor Joselito Pinol said the fight, sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and local businessmen, will push through in spite of the floods that recently hit parts of the town.

 

Completing the card which will be staged at the M'lang Municipal Gymnasium are seven match ups featuring Braveheart Boxing Club fighters:

     - Rolando Magbanua vs. Nikong Calamba, 8 rds., 120 lbs.

     - Glenn Porras vs. Jun Pader, 8 rds., 120 lbs.

     - Rey Juntilla vs. Rolando Omela, 6 rds., 120 lbs.

     - Gary Lumacad vs. Ronel Omosura, 4 rds., 108 lbs.

     - Phil Francis Abanilla vs.Rando Espilete, 4 rds., 112 lbs.

 

The fights start at 5 p.m. and the boxing event is open to the public.(pr)