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)
No comments:
Post a Comment