IBO CHAMP DAPUDONG TAKES ANOTHER TRIP TO THE LAND OF BROKEN DREAMS By Manny Pinol Changi Airport, Singapore - South Africa, the beautiful country at the tip of the gigantic African continent, is a Land of Broken Dreams for many Filipino boxers. Respected sports columnist Quinito Henson of the Philippine Star listed at least 23 Filipino fighters who figured in world championship bouts in South Africa who went home either with heads bowed after being roundly beaten or seething with anger over questionable decisions which robbed them of their dream of becoming world boxing champions. On June 15, 2013, however, a largely unknown fighter from the Province of North Cotabato, flyweight Edrin Dapudong, ended the losing streak of Filipino fighters in South Africa with one wicked punch, a thunderous left hook, which knocked out defending champion Gideon Buthelezi in the first round. But before that historic moment for Philippine boxing, Edrin actually was added to the list of Filipinos who failed in their attempts for the world title when in his first meeting against Buthelezi on Nov. 10, 2014, he lost by a controversial split decision. This was even after he mauled the former Olympian and two-time world champion and floored him in the 9th round. The South African judge and American judge Michael Pernick gave the fight to Buthelezi after 12 rounds while British judge Reg Thompson had the Filipino ahead in his scorecard. Following the controversial decision, I lodged a complaint with the IBO which sanctioned the fight questioning the judging, especially of the veteran Michael Pernick who scored the 9th round, when Dapudong floored Buthelezi, 10-9 and explained to me the following day that a knockdown does not automatically mean a 10-8 round. Of course, I refuted his general statement even when he rattled off his achievements and accomplishments in boxing officiating. I was convinced that Pernick was not fair that night. Returning to South Africa seven months later, I told Dapudong that there was no way we would win unless he stopped the champion cold. That was the only way the judges would not have a say on the result of the fight. Dapudong did just that. Starting slow and focusing on the body of the more agile champion, Dapudong unleashed the most deadly weapon in his arsenal, the left hook, and sent Buthelezi down to the canvas. Referee Robert Byrd tried to count to 10 but realizing that Buthelezi would not be able to stand up even if he counted up to 200, he waved off the fight. Thus ended the heart break of Filipino boxers in South Africa. Dapudong, until today, stands out as the only Filipino fighter to win in a world championship contest in South Africa. On July 18, in East London about 900 kilometers from Johannesburg, Dapudong will again try to set a record of sorts hoping to become the only Filipino boxer to win twice in a row in a world championship bout in South Africa. The odds are stacked up against the champion. It is winter in South Africa and according to trainer Gert Strydom, who assisted Dapudong in his winning fight against Buthelezi, it is very, very cold in the country today. Added to that is the fact that Dapudong will be facing a largely unknown challenger in his home turf. What consoles the camp of the Filipino champion, however, is the fact that unlike in his first fight against Buthelezi where the referee and one of the judges were South Africans, this time around the referee is British and there will only be one South African judge. Another comforting development was the selection of New Zealander Bruce Mctavish, who is a Philippine resident, to be one of the judges along with American Waleska Roldan. Other than that, we have no problems with this fight, said trainer Nonoy Neri, Manny Pacqjuiaos assistant trainer, who handled Dapudong along with asst. trainer Rex Penalosa for this fight. Dapudong, who is a natural flyweight but has moved up to the 115-lb. division, has sparred for 136 rounds in preparation for this fight and was only 118-lbs. when he left Davao City for South Africa. Now managed by Sonshine Sports Management, a new sports management group supported by religious leader Pastor Apollo C. Qjuiboloy where I am the chief executive officer, Dapudong hopes to turn South Africa into a field of fulfilled dreams. (Photo caption: Edrin Dapudong with trainers Raides Nonoy Neri and Rex Penalosa and with the writer in the Changi Airport of Singapore.)
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 12:45:37 +0000
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