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Philippines, 18 Feb 2026 |
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DAPUDONG DEFENDS WORLD TITLE NOV. 9 By Manny Piñol PhilBoxing.com Sun, 25 Aug 2013  Rodney Berman, president of the Golden Gloves Promotions of South Africa which holds the promotional rights to the 27-year-old champion's three title defenses, announced that Dapudong will take on former Olympian and former African flyweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa. The 12-round world title fight will be held at the Emperor's Palace Resort and Casino in Johannesburg City where on June 15 this year, Dapudong knocked out South African world champion Gideon Buthelezi in the first round to win the world title. Zolani, who is 5' 7" tall, is a southpaw who has a record of 17 wins with 15 KOs and only three losses. Dapudong, who is 5' 5", is the more experienced fighter with 29 wins 17 of which came by knockout. He lost five times in his career, one of which was to Buthelezi in November also in Johannesburg in a controversial split decision. Dapudong dominated the fight against Buthelezi and knocked down the African boxer in the 9th round but lost by split decision in the card of American judge Michael Pernick. It was because of that controversial split decision loss that Dapudong returned to Johannesburg again in June this year after IBO President Edward Levine ordered a rematch. Zolani, who fights as a southpaw, once held the unknown World Boxing Foundation (WBF) flyweight title which is largely unrecognized by most world boxing groups. In an attempt to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title in 2010, Zolani was knocked out by countryman Moruti Mithalane in the 5th round. Two more attempts at the heavier IBF Superflyweight Interim title also ended in heartbreaking majority decision and split decision losses for Zolani. Dapudong, on the other hand, has figured in three world title fights. The first was for the World Boxing Association (WBA) against Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in Sonora, Mexico which ended when referee Raul Caiz, Jr. prematurely stopped the fight in the 3rd round following a knockdown suffered by the Dapudong. Then, on Nov. 10, 2012, Dapudong lost by split decision to Buthelezi in South Africa, a loss which was avenged by a brutal first round knockout victory over the same fighter seven months later. Dapudong, a product of the grassroots boxing program which was started when I became Governor of North Cotabato in 1998 to 2007, previously held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental junior flyweight title and the World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight title. Dapudong is now training in the Braveheart Boxing Gym in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. (Photo credit: nsquared photo shows the killer left hook which knocked out Buthelezi in the first round) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.  |
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