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Dapudong Cried Before and After the Fight By Manny Piñol PhilBoxing.com Tue, 22 Jun 2010  Tepic City, Mexico - International matchmaker Sampson Leckowicz, who arranged the fight between newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver champion Edren "The Sting" Dapudong and Mexican Jesus Jimenez, called my attention to something unusual unfolding before our very eyes: Dapudong cried after he touched gloves with Jimenez to start the championship fight. "Is something wrong with our boy,?" a concerned Leckowicz asked me after the bell rang to start the first round of what was earlier expected tobe a very difficult fight for the 23-year-old farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato. I noticed it too but I did not know what to tell Leckowicz except to assure him that Dapudong is not the kind of boxer who is scared whenever he fights. In less than two minutes, it was all over. Dapudong knocked out Mexico's No. 1 Pound for Pound boxer touted as the country's next world champion who had a menacing record of 28 wins with 20 knockouts against 5 losses. As I rushed up the ring to celebrate the victory with him and chief trainer Noli Pinol, I saw Dapudong crying again. This time I was sure those were tears of joy. It was during dinner with Noli and my wife, Emily, who joined us in this important event in our involvement with boxing, that I had the chance of asking Dapudong about that strange scene shortly before the start of the fight. "Yes Sir. I cried because I could not believe I will be in the ring in Mexico to fight for a world title," he admitted sheepishly. I understood what he meant. It was understandable that Dapudong could not believe that he would have the chance to fight for a world boxing crown, never mind if it is a junior title labeled as the WBC Silver Championship. Many more did not believe. In fact, shortly before the fight, skeptics who never heard of Dapudong asked: "Dapudong who?" and predicted he would just be another bum who will crawl in ignominy inside a Mexican ring again. It was understandable that Dapudong would be emotional about the chance to fight for a world crown because he almost gave up on boxing and wanted to return to farming. He and other members of the Braveheart Boxing Club felt disappointed because other boxers who have lesser skills were getting all the opportunities but the young boys from North Cotabato who are products of a well-planned boxing program were not given the break to prove their worth. Dapudong and at least six other young fighters from North Cotabato who joined the program which I started in 1998 are largely unknown and unheard of. Their records are impressive: Dapudong is 23 wins, 2 losses, 11 KOs. His losses, one of which was to former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia, came by decision. Featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 23, is 18 wins with 17 KOs; bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras is 24 wins, 2 losses, 14 KOs; bantamweight Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, 24, is 14 wins, 1 draw, 11 KOs; junior featherweight Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 24, is 17 wins, 1 loss, 11 KOs; miniflyweight Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 20, is 18 wins, 2 losses (by decision), 14 KOs; and flyweight Jermie Jabel, 21, is 16 wins, 1 draw, 8 KOs. There are many more on the way up. Boys as young as 18 who have graduated from the amateur ranks are now being screened based on two very important criteria that I set: heart and power. The problem is nobody believed. Well, that was until last night when Edren Dapudong showed that there are diamonds in the rough waiting to be discovered in North Cotabato. The gems are getting to be discovered and things are working out well now. Justin Fortune has offered his help in fine-tuning the North Cotabato boxers in his gymnasium in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Leckowicz has offered Villanueva an important fight in Uruguay in November. The other boys could get their needed break within the next few months. It is understandable then that Dapudong cried before the fight last night just realizing that his dream of proving himself was unfolding before his very eyes. I could have cried too, except that I don't cry very often. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.  |
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