The Philippines' Edren "The Sting" Dapudong, a farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato demolished Mexico's Pound-for-Pound No. 1 boxer Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez in less than two minutes of the first round of a scheduled 12-round world championship to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver title in this historic mountain city.
The 23-year-old former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Junior Flyweight champion who was fighting as a flyweight for the first time, initiated the action right at the start of the bell connecting with crisp jabs to the face of the left-handed Jimenez and heavy blows to the midsection.
At 1:20 minutes of the round, Dapudong connected with a right straight to Jimenez's breadbasket and followed this with a crackling left hook that sent the Mexican crumbling to the canvas. Jimenez beat the count.
As American referee Gerald Ritter signalled the continuation of the fight, Dapudong came rushing in pummelling the 26-year-old Latino champion with thunderous body punches before connecting with another powerful left hook that dropped Jimenez face first to the canvas for the full count at 1:55 of the first.
The knockout victory by Dapudong stunned the Mexican crowd who came expecting an easy fight for Jimenez who is also known as "El Torito" and considered as Mexico's next prospect for a world title. Jimenez is rated No. 1 by both the WBC and the WBO.
Dapudong, who now has a record of 23 wins, against 2 losses and 11 KOs, was not expected to prevail over the high-touted Jimenez. He was informed of the fight only two weeks ago and had to queue up at the US Embassy for a transit visa to Mexico which he got three days before the fight.
Braveheart Boxing Club's chief trainer Noli Pinol, younger brother of Braveheart Boxing Club head former Governor Manny Pinol, however, said that Dapudong had been undergoing light training prior to the news that he will fight for the WBC Silver Flyweight title.
"He was able to adjust easily, especially so since he did not have to lose weight as he will be fighting as a flyweight," Noli said.
Last minute pointers on conditioning shared by Justin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao's former conditioning coach, also helped as Dapudong was able to recover from fatigue and acclimatize easily.(pr)
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