Philippine light-welterweight champion Bart Abapo failed in his bid to bring home the Pan-Asian Boxing Association 140-pound belt after yielding to Indonesian Daudy Bahari by unanimous decision Thursday night at the Swiss?tel The Stamford in Singapore.
The “Bali Boy” retained his World Boxing Association-affiliated belt by dominating the fourth round when he attacked the ALA Boy after a dull first three rounds. The slick Abapo tried to counter but the Indon continued punching.
The ninth round was the best for Bahari but Abapo stood his ground. Abapo, a former Arafura Games amateur boxing campaigner, countered and taunted Daudy, even smiling when the Indonesian hit big wallops.
Final round
Bahari tried to finish off a worn-out Abapo in the final round but the young champion failed to finish off the Filipino fighter.
The win improved Bahari’s ring record to 29-1-1 win-loss-draw with 11 KOs, while Abapo dropped 17-6-3 with 12 KOs.
Abapo’s six loses were all inflicted abroad. He has a 2-6-2 record in fights outside the Philippines.
His first attempt in the international ring was a draw in Japan against Hideyuki Furuhashi in December 2002. It was followed with a three-fight swing in Indonesia that started with a knockout win over Giden Salasa on March 16, 2004, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Joey Ricardo seven days later and a draw with Hengky Tobias on April 27, 2004.
He lost twice in Australia: a knockout loss to Gairy St. Clair for the World Boxing Federation International 130lb title in July 2004 and a majority decision defeat to Johnny Sheferaw in November the same year.
His second win abroad was in Korea where he beat Don Keun Chang by technical decision in July last year. It was followed by two loses in Thailand: a unanimous decision loss to Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai in December and a unanimous decision defeat to Sataporn Singwangcha on March 10 this year for the World Boxing Council-affiliated ABC lightweight title.
The card dubbed “Black Tie Fight Nite” was the first professional boxing promotion in Singapore in nearly 17 years.
The last promotion in the Lion City was on Feb. 25, 1989 when Indonesian Ellyas Pical kept his International Boxing Federation super-flyweight belt following a split decision win over Mike Phelps of the US at the National Stadium.
Meridian Promotions, the promoter of the Bahari-Abapo fight, vowed to promote world title fights in Singapore. (
