That was not exactly a fairytale ending last Sunday for Edrin Dapudong, the new World Boxing Council flyweight silver champion.
But it?s worth noting that the poor boy from M?lang, North Cotabato, reported for his grand bout in Mexico not unlike a sooty Cinderella wanting in necessary footwear.
Dapudong, 23, arrived at the Tepic, Mexico, airport practically barefoot, walking on cheap rubber sandals he had shredded thin while assisting his father in the farm.
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On fight night, Dapudong, frail and small, also teetered like an insignificant insect, a fact that had Mexican fans celebrating ahead at ringside.
Anyway, after less than two minutes of fistic fury, with his foe unable to rise from a second fall, the referee stopped the bout.
He raised Dapudong?s hand in triumph.
Maybe it was only then that it dawned upon everybody that it was the Barefoot Prince of Boxing from the Philippines who came to the ball.
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?Yes, he could wear nothing but Spartan rubber slippers to the airport,? said his very amused manager, former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pi?ol.
Pi?ol did not rate the win a masterpiece, but he was quick to assure it was the first time he had witnessed a perfect execution in the ring.
He called it complete, sharp and masterful; in short, noble.
Pi?ol called up from California Wednesday and confirmed they are scheduled to be back in Manila Saturday morning.
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The fight purse, Pi?ol said, was so measly it was not worth divulging.
Of course, the first item they bought upon returning to California was a new pair of shoes for Dapudong.
Pi?ol also had another more amusing tale.
Dapudong cried after he touched gloves with his would-be victim, Jesus Jimenez, at the start of the bout.
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?Is something wrong with our boy?? Pi?ol quoted international matchmaker Sampson Leckowicz, who arranged the fight, as asking.
?I did not know what to tell Leckowicz, but I assured him it definitely was not because of fear,? Pi?ol said.
Anyway, after he jumped into the ring during the victory stampede, Pi?ol saw Dapudong cry again.
This time, Pi?ol said, he felt sure those were tears of joy the boxer had shed.
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Later, during dinner with his brother and chief trainer Noli and his lovely wife Emily, Pi?ol asked Dapudong why he cried.
?Yes, sir, I cried because I could not believe I will be in the ring in Mexico to fight for a world title,? Dapudong explained according to Pi?ol.
It was understandable because Edrin almost gave up boxing to go into full-time farming.
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Scheduled to be delivered to Dapudong in California Thursday is a new pair of fighting shoes, courtesy of former national cyclist Rolando Hiso in Chicago, who helps Pi?ol in the upkeep of his Braveheart Stable.
Dapudong wore in Mexico the classy pair given him by Hiso three years ago.
Anyway, as a result of his splendid victory, Dapudong and his teammates will be getting something more significant than fighting shoes.
Suddenly, after they had seen Dapudong, big fights are being offered Pi?ol?s other talents abroad.
Said Pi?ol: ?Dapudong was himself very disappointed, because other boxers with lesser skills kept getting fights abroad.?
