Manila - Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Junior Flyweight Champion Edren "The Sting" Dapudong sparred with the former World Boxing Association flyweight titist Koki Kameda at the Wild Card Gym in Paranaque and displayed the tenacity and skills that could earn him the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight silver championship on Saturday, June 19.
Dapudong, 23, a shy farmer's son from Mlang, North Cotabato is set to travel to Mexico on June 15 for a 12-round championship fight against Mexican Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez in the resort city of Tepic in Nayarit Province, some 200 kilometers south of Guadalajara.
Chief trainer Noli Pinol who will work in the corner of Dapudong in the fight against Jimenez said the young fighter from North Cotabato impressed the Japanese champion with his relentless attack and effective defensive style.
Kameda, one of the two brothers who have won world titles, said Jimenez is big and strong but Dapudong has a big chance of winning because the Mexican is slower and is expected to be affected by weight reduction.
Dapudong, a product of the amateur boxing program launched by then North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol in 1998 won the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Miniflyweight title at age 18 but had to relinguish it to move up to the junior flyweight division where he won the WBO Oriental championship by knocking out veteran Bert Batawang in Cebu City last year. He has a record of 24 wins against 2 losses with 14 KOs.
Jimenez, 26, is a known power puncher who has a record of 28 wins with 5 losses and 20 KOs.
In spite of the short notice for the fight, chief trainer Noli is confident that Dapudong will surprise the Mexican.
Dapudong is one of the largely unknown but outstanding fighters from North Cotabato who were discovered through the Paboksing Para sa Masa program of then Governor Pinol. The program included the hiring of Cuban coach Honorato Espinosa who trained local trainers in North Cotabato for over one year.
Other outstanding boxers from North Cotabato who are waiting for their chance for the big fights are featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva ( 18 wins, 17 KOs), bantamweight Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 24 (17 wins, 1 loss, 12 KOs), bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 24 (24 wins, 2 losses 12 KOs), miniflyweight Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo (18 wins, 2 losses, 15 KOs) and undefeated flyweight Jermie Jabel. (pr)
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