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Philippines, 23 Feb 2026 |
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APOLINARIO BECOMES PHILIPPINES LONE WORLD CHAMPION WITH KO WIN OVER BUTHELEZI PhilBoxing.com Sat, 30 Jul 2022  Dave Apolinario. Dave “The Doberman” Apolinario, now W17 KO12 L0 becomes the country’s lone world champion after disposing South African legend and three division world champion Gideon Buthelezi in the opening round. At stake was the International Boxing Organization World Flyweight Belt. The win was badly needed after our last standing champion Mark Magsayo was outpointed by Mexican Rey Vargas recently. Both fighters entered the opening bell with so much respect sizing up each other with jabs and single shots. The Filipino was obviously more aggressive but Buthelezi was moving around effectively enjoying the cheers of the home crowd. It was on the last minute that Apolinario exploded with a wicked one-two that sent the South African crashing to the canvas. It was the right straight that caught Buthelezi on the button for good. The hometown boy failed to beat the count thus ending the night early. It was a meaningful win for Dave Apolinario whose mother passed away three months ago. The sorry of bereavement didn’t stop the Sanman protégé from putting up a show and showing the boxing world what he was made of. The win was dedicated to his late mother. “How I wish my mother was here as I celebrate my first world title belt. This is for you mom. This is for the Philippines. This is for my team!”, Apolinario stated. Sanman Promotions CEO Jim Claude Manangquil was all celebrations. “We were always confident that Dave will stop Buthelezi with an exclamation point. He is a showman. It was the performance of his life but this is just the beginning. Dave is here to get the other belts. Thank you Mike Pelayo”, Manangquil said.  |
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