Dapudong loses world title bid

City of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico - The world flyweight title bid of the Philippines' Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong against Mexico's Hernan "Tyson" Marquez ended in a controversial fashion Saturday night as US-based Mexican referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight after a flash knockdown suffered by the Filipino challenger in the third round of the 12-round title fight.

 

Dapudong, 25, who was never been down before tonight's championship fight, was tagged by the Mexican champion with a left to the face as he was backing off early in the third sending him to the seat of his pants.

 

The Filipino stood up on his own right away and appeared unhurt. Caiz gave him the mandatory eight count but suddenly decided to wave off  Dapudong out of the fight to the surprise of the challenger's corner which included former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol, trainer Bruce Lerio and veteran cornerman Nonito Donaire, Sr.

 

Dapudong was in control of the fight early on connecting crisp jabs to the face of the shorter champion. In the third, he caught the champion with combination to the body and pursued the Mexican titlist to the ropes only to back off as the champion counterpunched. The unofficial scorecard of TV Azteca showed Marquez winning the first round and Dapudong earning the second.

 

Marquez caught Dapudong with a left to the face sending the Filipino challenger to the canvas that ended in the stoppage of the fight.

 

"We can't say we could have won the fight but certainly, the stoppage was premature given the fact the this is a world championship fight. Dapudong was not even hurt or marked," said Pinol.

 

Dapudong, who appeared bewildered by the stoppage of the fight, said he was asked by Caiz whether he wanted to continue the fight and he said he told the referee "Yes."

 

A replay of the fight on Azteca TV of Mexico showed Dapudong nodding his head as Caiz was asking him whether he wanted to continue the fight. Caiz, however, waved off the Filipino challenger.

 

"I don't know why he stopped it," Dapudong, who did not even suffer a welt as a result of the punch that led to the knockdown.

 

Even the legendary Mexican boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez, who was at ringside for the television coverage of the fight, later said he thought the fight was prematurely stopped.

 

He later posed with Dapudong in the lobby of Hoteles Lucerna after the fight.

 

Pinol said that the knockdown suffered by the champion Marquez in his fight against former champion Luis Concepcion of Panama was even worse but the fight was not stopped. Marquez came back to score three knockdowns and won the title from Concepcion.

 

Pinol said he has expressed his displeasure over the early stoppage of the fight but he had no plans of contesting the result.

 

"That's part of the realities you have to face when you fight in a foreign venue," Pinol said.

 

Saturday night's loss was Dapudong's fourth in 26 professional fights and his first by stoppage.(Carlos Bautista)

Dapudong camp worries about heat; Marquez concerned of hook

WBA Flyweight Championship

 

DAPUDONG CAMP WORRIES ABOUT HEAT;

CHAMP MARQUEZ CONCERNED OF HOOK

 

By Carlos Bautista 

City of Hermosillo, Mexico - With just a day remaining before Mexican champion Hernan "Tyson" Marquez defends his World Boxing Association (WBA) title for the first time against dangerous Filipino challenger Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, both camps have showed concern of two factors that could affect the outcome of the fight.

 

For the Mexican champion, it is Dapudong's vaunted left hook that they are concerned with. And rightly so. In June last year, in spite of the short notice, the Filipino fighter used that left hook to knock out then No. 1 Mexican flyweight Jesus "Zurdo" Jimenez to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight silver title. 

 

While Dapudong lost that title by decision in September 2010, the video of that fight against Jimenez is all over the Internet and serves as a fair warning to the champion that the Filipino challenger, who again was informed of the fight only two weeks ago, is capable of scoring an upset.

 

Dapudong's camp, on the other hand, has expressed worries about the searing heat even at night in this city of 1 million people located right in the middle of the desert in Sonora, with the mercury hitting 105F during daytime.

 

"I went out of the hotel at 8:30 p.m. to buy slippers and the air was so hot I felt like I was standing beside a running diesel engine," said Dapudong's manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol.

 

Both camps, however, have an antidote for their perceived problems.

 

In public workout Thursday, Mexican champion Marquez, a southpaw, was seen keeping his right gloves high up apparently to cover his right face which could be vulnerable to the Filipino's left hook while throwing a lot of left straights and uppercuts.

 

"They have studied Bungis (Dapudong's nickname) a lot and they know that the left hook could flatten Marquez," said Bruce Lerio, Braveheart Boxing Club's assistant trainer who will be at the corner of the challenger, along with cutman Nonito Donaire, Sr., on fight night.

 

The Filipino camp, on the other hand, are prepared for the heat. Food with considerable amount of salt and chocolates, and electrolytes have been prepared for the Filipino challenger to take right after the weigh in.

 

ALA Boxing Promotions vice president Dennis Canete, Dapudong's promoter, has prepared three pails full of bottled water and ice for fight night.

 

While the Filipinos are prepared for a long fight, they have one other option: end the fight early.

 

With all bases seemingly covered by both camps, it will be seen on fight night who between them has prepared better for the perceived problems.(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)

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. 

Finally, a TV Time Slot for Dapudong-Jimenez WBC Title Fight on July 10, Saturday

After a week of uncertainly, the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver Championship between the Philippines Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong and World No. 1 flyweight Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez held in Tepic City, Mexico last June 19 will finally be aired on July 10 from 9:15 to 10:15 p.m. on the government television channel NBN 4.

NBN 4 General Manager Joey Isabelo and program manager Agerico "Bobby" Arias confirmed the availability of the time slot which follows the top-rated "Swerte sa Lotto," the lottery show which is regularly carried by NBN 4.

The airing of the WBC Championship bout will be a co-production project of NBN 4 and the Braveheart Boxing Club owned by sports journalist and boxing manager Manny Pinol, who manages the country's newest boxing hero from M'lang, North Cotabato, the 24-year-old Dapudong.

Dapudong, the former World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific Youth Miniflyweight Champion and former WBO Oriental junior flyweight champion, was a last minute pick to challenge Jimenez, who was rated No. 1 flyweight by both the WBO and WBC and Latino Flyweight Champion, for the vacant WBC Flyweight Silver title.

The 5' 5" tall Dapudong knocked out Jimenez in the first round of the 12-round championship bout, a feat that shocked the Mexican boxing fans and gave Filipino boxing followers a pleasant surprise on a weekend when five other Filipino world caliber boxers, including WBC junior flyweight champion Rodel Mayol, lost in different parts of the world.

The airing on Saturday is sponsored by Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr., chairman of the giant food conglomerate San Miguel Corporation. (pr)

Danding supports airing of Dapudong-Jimenez fight

(Photo captions: 1) Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. receives WBC flyweight silver champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, who made a courtesy call along with manager Manny Pinol. 2) Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr., poses with new WBC flyweight silver champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, boxing manager Manny Pinol and Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol. (pr)



Showing his concern for upcoming Filipino boxers, San Miguel Corporation Chairman Amb. Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. on Friday supported the airing July 3 of the sensational 1st round knockout victory of North Cotabato boxer Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong over World No. 1 Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver Championship.

The fight, staged in Tepic City, Mexico June 19 and described by no less than WBC Secretary General Mauricio Sulaiman as spectacular, will be aired July 3 at 11 a.m. on ABS CBN Studio 23.

The show will be hosted by veteran sportscaster Ronnie Nathanielsz with Manny Pinol and sports journalist Recah Trinidad as panelists. Dapudong and his chief trainer, Noli Pinol, will also be interviewed in the show.

Cojuangco personally shouldered the payment of the airtime and the cost of the production of the one hour television special titled "Tale of Boxing's Barefoot Prince: WBC Flyweight Silver Championship."

"Filipino boxing fans should see this fight," Ambassador Cojuangco told Dapudong's manager, Manny Pinol, who called on him yesterday at his San Miguel Corporation office in Mandaluyong along with the new champion and Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol.

Long before Dapudong flew to Mexico to fight for the world title, Ambassador Cojuangco has already pledged his support to Pinol in his quest to produce a new world boxing champion.

It will be remembered and even before boxing icon Manny Pacquiao started earning hundreds of millions in his fights, Cojuangco, through San Miguel Corporation, has given the "Pacman" a lifetime special support fund in 9 digit figures.

Ambassador Cojuangco during the call reminded Dapudong to behave and live like a true champion and a model for the Filipino youth.(pr)

New WBC Champion Quietly Returns to RP; Celebrates 24th Birthday With Family

M'lang, North Cotabato - Farmer's son Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, who shocked Mexican boxing when he knocked out in less than 2 minutes Mexico's No. 1 Pound for Pound Flyweight and World No. 1 Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez to win the World Boxing Council Flyweight Silver Championship, quietly returned home to the Philippines yesterday (June 26) and proceeded to his home in Barangay Pag-asa in this town to celebrate his victory and his 24th birthday with his family, relatives and friends.

Dapudong arrived with his manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol, and Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol from Salinas, California where they spent three days of rest with family friends following his sensational first round KO victory in Tepic City, Mexico June 19. Also in the group was Manny Pinol's wife, Emily.

The new champion was welcomed upon his arrival at the NAIA by Games and Amusements Board (GAB) officials led by boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz, international matchmaker Sammy Gelloani who arranged the Mexico fight along with Sampson Leckowicz, customs officer Alfredo "Bok" Cruz, a close friend of Manny Pinol, and fraternity brothers and sisters of Dapudong.

Cruz hosted breakfast for the new champion at the Century Park Sheraton before the party proceeded for the last leg of the journey home, the 1 1/2 hour flight to Davao City which is two hours away from M'lang.

Dapudong, a college student who dropped out of school to pursue his passion for boxing, heard mass at the old Sta. Teresita Parish Church in M'lang early today and will attend a public viewing of his fight against Jimenez at the town's gymnasium which Mayor Lito Pinol arranged so that the champion's townmates will see the video of the Mexico championship bout.

The fight will also be shown on July 3 from 11 am on ABS CBN Studio 23.

Tomorrow, Monday, a motorcade will be arranged from Dapudong's village to the town plaza where he will join the newly reelected mayor, Lito Pinol, and his fellow officials in their oathtaking ceremony.(pr)

Dapudong Destroys The Destroyer

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)

Dapudong, Garcia and Mexican Foes Make Weight

Filipino boxers Edren "The Sting" Dapudong, who is
fighting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver Title, and
Richard Jun Garcia, who battles for the World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Youth Junior Bantamweight title, easily made the weight in their respective
divisions during the official weigh-in today, one day before they go up
against Mexican opponents here.

Dapudong, 23, the former WBO Asia Pacific Miniflyweight Champion and
Oriental Junior Flyweight Champion, tipped the scale at 112 lbs. while his
opponent, Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez, who was earlier reported to be
taller and bigger than the Filipino fighter surprisingly came in two pounds
lighter at 110 lbs.

Garcia, who is from Malungon, Saranggani Province, weighed 114 lbs. as
against the Mexican defending champion Jose Montes who came in at 115 lbs..
The two will fight for the WBO Youth World Junior Bantamweight champion.

Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol said Dapudong, 24 wins, 2
losses, 14 KOs, appears to have recovered from the long and rigorious trip
and is expected to give Jimenez, 28 wins, 5 losses, 20 KOs, a tough fight
tomorrow.

Dapudong has never been knocked down in his career while Jimenez has
suffered 3 KO losses.(pr)

Dapudong Gets Conditioning Tips from Justin Fortune

Filipino flyweight Edren "The Sting" Dapudong
arrived in this mountain city near the Pacific Coast of Mexico yesterday
after a long and rigorous travel to take on the biggest fight of his young
boxing career, the World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight Championship
against Mexico's Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez on Saturday, June 19.

Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol said Dapudong, 23, the
former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Youth Asia Pacific Miniflyweight
Champion and Oriental Junior Flyweight Champion, has no problem making the
112-lb. weight limit. He is also confident that the last minute conditioning
tips shared by top conditioning coach Justin Fortune will help the fighter
from North Cotabato acclimatize and overcome fatigue.

Fortune, who is known to Filipino boxing fans as the conditioning coach of
boxing icon Manny Pacquiao before he and Hall of Fame boxing trainer Freddie
Roach parted ways, provided Dapudong with last minute dietary instructions
upon the request of the Filipino boxer's manager, North Cotabato Vice Gov.
Manny Pinol.

"It will not do much but it will help him acclimatize and overcome fatigue,"
Fortune told Vice Gov. Pinol when they met in Los Angeles, California prior
to the arrival of Dapudong and Noli Pinol.

Fortune said his dietary tips will address the biggest problem encountered
by travelling fighters -- acclimatization and fatigue.

During the press briefing held in Tepic yesterday, Noli and Dapudong were
also pleasantly surprised when Jimenez, who is listed in boxrec.com as being
5' 7", is just half an inch taller than the 5' 5" tall Filipino fighter.

"He is not 5' 7" after all," said Noli adding that the height factor will no
longer come into play in the championship fight.

Dapudong, a farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato, is largely unknown to
many boxing fans but boxing experts, including veteran boxing manager Lito
Mondejar, has identified him as a world title prospect.

The most important fights that Dapudong figured in were against former world
miniflyweight champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia which he lost by
decision and against veteran Bert Batawang whom he knocked out in Cebu City
last year to win the WBO Oriental Junior Flyweight crown.(pr)

Visa Issuance Delay Bugs Dapudong's Title Fight

A paper work glitch has delayed the departure of Filipino boxer Edren Dapudong who is set to fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight title in Tepic City, Mexico on June 19.

Dapudong, 23, the former World Boxing Organization Oriental Junior Flyweight champion was supposed to leave for Mexico via the United States June 15 and was expected to arrive in Tepic City on June 16. A document required by the US embassy in Manila which Dapudong failed to submit initially, however, delayed the approval of his transit visa.

"He is sure to leave June 16 and will be in Mexico on June 17, two days before the fight," said promoter Sammy Gelloani who arranged the WBC championship bout between Dapudong and Mexican Jesus Jimenez.

Noli Pinol, chief trainer of the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato to which Dapudong belongs, said the delay and the rigors of processing the travel papers at the last minute are expected to affect Dapudong's performance.

"Dehado talaga tayo dito kasi pagod ang boxer sa kababalik sa US embassy para mag-process ng papeles. Pero wala naman tayong magagawa kundi tanggapin ang laban because this is our only chance to appear in a big fight," Noli Pinol said.

While largely unknown abroad, Dapudong, who has a record of of 22 wins with 14 KOs against 2 losses, is considered as one of the top flyweights in the Philippines. His losses were all by decision, one of which was against former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia.

In Cebu City last year, he knocked out veteran Bert Batawang before a hometown crowd but lost the title when he failed to defend it within six months.

Since losing to Rachman, Dapudong, 23, has piled up victories and is highly rated by the world boxing bodies in the junior flyweight division.

Jimenez, known as "The Destroyer," is the current Latino flyweight champion and has a record of 28 wins with 20 KOs against 5 losses, three of which came by way of knockout.

The WBC Silver Flyweight Championship, a new title established by the WBC to recognize upcoming world title contenders, is set for 12 rounds.(pr)

Dapudong Spars with Japanese Ex-World Champ; All Set for WBC Flyweight Title Fight

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)

Year of the Bravehearts

Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo

Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua

Lorenzo "Thunberbolt" Villanueva

Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon

Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong

Prepare your 2010 boxing calendar this early. Make sure it is adorned with a Big Red Heart pierced by a flash of lightning.

If Lady Luck smiles, 2010 could be the year of the Braveheart Boys of North Cotabato, a province in the Southern Philippines which has a long history of conflict and violence but which has stood out as one of the most outstanding local government units in the country.

With five regional champions in its folds, Braveheart Boxing Club could finally realize the dream of its patron, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol to produce world boxing champions.

Braveheart boxers now own five World Boxing Organization (WBO) regional titles. Tiny Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 20, (14 wins, 2 losses, 12 KOs) holds the WBO Oriental Miniflyweight title; Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, 23, (21 wins, 2 losses, 13 KOs) is the WBO Oriental Junior Flyweight titlist; Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, 24, (14 wins, 11 KOs, 1 draw) is the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion; Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 24, (17 wins, 12 KOs) is the WBO Interim Oriental bantamweight champion; and Lorenzo "Thunberbolt" Villanueva, 23, (15 wins, 15 KOs, 1ND), raw and awkward but tough as a nail recently stopped Asian Games gold medallist Eric Canoy to win the WBO Oriental featherweight crown.

"It could happen in 2010. A few of the boys are already ripe for the world championships," said Pinol, who as Governor of the province from 1998 to 2007 embarked on a grassroots boxing program that staged matches among barefoot boys during village and town fiestas and selected from among them those who had the prospect of becoming champions.

In 2005, with the help of the Cuban ambassador to the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission under Butch Ramirez, then governor Pinol travelled to Cuba with bosom friend journalist Recah Trinidad and brought home to North Cotabato jaded Cuban trainer Honorato Espinosa who gave his country its first Olympic gold medal in Munich.

Espinosa stayed in North Cotabato for 18 months and trained local trainors including Vice Gov. Pinol's younger brother, Noli, who is now Braveheart's chief trainer. The Cuban influence is very visible in the fighting style of the Braveheart boxers who are aggressive and excellent body punchers.

At least four of these boys are already ready for the big time, said Vice Gov. Pinol.

"Magbanua, Maraon, Dapudong and Asenjo could already stand up to the best in the world in their division. I will certainly entertain the idea of pitting Magbanua in the junior featherweight division. Maraon could go up against the winner of the Fernando Montiel-Eric Morel bout, Dapudong could take on Ivan Calderon while Asenjo could go up against Donnie Nietes," said Vice Gov. Pinol.

"Of course, there is no guarantee that our boys will prevail over these popular and outstanding opponents but they certainly will give boxing fans something to remember," he said.

Vice Gov. Pinol said the next group of fighters who are still being honed and fine-tuned include Lorenzo Villanueva, undefeated featherweight Reynaldo Belandres and undefeated flyweight Jermie Jabel.

"About 30 more boys as young as 14 are now training as amateurs and waiting for their turn to be given a chance to prove their worth," he said.

"Those who do not have the skills and the heart are simply told to go back to school," Vice Gov. Pinol said adding that the selection of good boxers is just as tough as separating the grain from the chaff.

With a sustained effort and well-planned boxing program, Filipino boxing fans could watch out for the Braveheart Boys in 2010 and the years after that.