9/21/10
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)
"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)
9/16/10
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)
9/12/10
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)
9/10/10
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)
9/6/10
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)
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)
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