Dapidran?s former coach to testify against him
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 01 Sep 2015
DAVAO CITY ? A former coach-trainer of Jonel ?Kid Pacquiao? Dapidran will testify against him and his father?s claim that his parents did not gave their consent when the young boxer signed a managerial contract to his second cousin Manny Pacquiao?s trainer Raides ?Nonoy? Neri of MP Davao Stable.
Alexander Recopelacion of Purok San Francisco, Aurora St., Digos City said that he heard Dapidran?s father Alex Dapidran giving his blessings to Neri inside the MP Davao Gym in Capili Village, Dumoy ?to handle and take care the boxing career of his son Jonel?.
In his affidavit of statement, the 47-year old Recopelacion said that he heard Dapidran?s father telling Neri, ?Akong isalig si Dodong Jonel kang coach Nonoy kay basig mag problema ko kung did an nako ang akong anak sa iyang gusto ug pangandoy?. (I entrust Jonel to coach Nonoy because I might have problem if I will not give in to what my son like and dream is).
?I heard Alex Dapidran said that he fully agreed and supported the decision of his son Jonel to become a professional boxer and to join the MP Davao Boxing Stable and Promotion,? said Recopelacion.
Recopelacion was already a strong supporter of Dapidran even he was still a struggling amateur boxer and later became a member of the national training pool in Manila.
But after only a few months with the national team in 2013, Dapidran called up Recopelacion that he was quitting the RP team to become a pro boxer. Dapidran sought Recopelacion?s help to contact Pacquiao of his intention to join the MP Stable in Davao.
And so Recopelacion immediately went to Neri, who later asked the permission of Pacquiao in General Santos City.
Pacquiao approved it and gave money to Neri for Dapidran?s plane fare back to Davao. It was Recopelacion, who even fetched Dapidran at the Davao International Airport and brought him to Neri?s residence. The following day, Dapidran showed his boxing skills to Neri at the gym.
After punching the mitts Recopelacion heard Neri telling Dapidran, ?I will make you world champion.? Dapidran was still allowed to go home to his family in Digos for more than a week. Recopelacion was again responsible in bringing back Dapidran to the MP Davao gym.
?Gigamit na namo ang akong tricycle padulong dire sa Davao (We already used my own tricycle in going to Davao),? said Recopelacion told this writer.
This time, Recopelacion and Dapidran arrived together with the boxer?s father Alex, sister Irene and another boxer Rey Dulay (who would later became a trainer).
Recopelacion said that Dulay and the other boxers, who also signed their managerial contracts with Neri during that time inside the gym are also willing to become witnesses against Dapidran.
?I was shocked when I heard that Jonel left the MP gym and texted him immediately,? said Recopelacion.
Recopleacion texted Dapidran on why did he left him also.
Dapidran replied: ?Coach hinde kita iniwan, na ingon ane lng ko coach tungod sa naa koy wala na uyonan sa ilang mga patakaran sa gym? piro bsan paman ingon ane ko coach, adam gihapon ko nga mamahimong champion.? (Coach, I didn?t leave you. I only did this because there is something on their rules at the gym that I do not like. But even though I am like this coach, I am still ready to become a champion).
It was reported that Dapidran broke the no. 1 rule of Neri which does not allow the boxers to bring their girlfriend inside the boxer?s quarters at the gym.
Dapidran also texted Recopelacion that ?he would only talk and explain to Pacquiao after his fight with Floyd Mayweather to give his complaints against Neri.?
Dapidran also texted Recopleacion that he only left the gym because he had a problem.
Dapidran?s girlfriend was already pregnant and the 17-year old boxer wanted already a bigger purse from his last fight in November.
The 5-foot-9 Dapidran is still only an 8-rounder with a pro record of 6 straight wins, 3 by knockouts. In his last outing, Dapidran fought in his first 8-rounder and won by a unanimous decision against Hagibis Quinones last Nov. 8 at the Almendras gym.
He was able to join the PH training pool upon the recommendation of another trainer and former national player Renato Moreno in Digos in April 2013.
Dapidran decided to leave the pool after he got disappointed for not making the final line-up for a tournament in Kazakhstan.
Recopelacion said that is willing to testify against Dapidran for violating the boxer-manager agreement.
?Ang ubang mga boxers kay mao pa ang ilang pangandoy na makasulod sa MP Stable. Pero siya na parente pa dyud ni Pacquiao mao pa hinoon ang nihawa. Nasolsulan lang dyud ang bata. Gisayangan nya,? (The other boxers are dreaming to make it with MP Stable. But he, who is even a relative of Pacquiao left. He was just misinformed. He wasted it.), said Recopelacion.
Neri will soon file a case against Dapidran, who is reportedly now training in Cebu under the guidance of American promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and his matchmaker Sammy Gello-ani.
Dapidran claims that his promotional contract with Lewkowicz was valid since it was also signed by his parents unlike the managerial contract with Neri which his parents didn?t know about since he "didn?t even tell them."
Dapidran filed a complaint with the Games and Amusements Board but was later dismissed.
Neri earlier showed this writer a copy of their boxer-managerial contract, which was signed also by Dapidran. It was witnessed by Neri?s wife Vanessa and trainer-matchmaker Joven Jimenez.
Under his contract with Neri, Dapidran is not allowed to accept any fights without the permission and knowledge of his registered manager (Neri).
Lewkowicz has announced to the media that he will let Dapidran have two more local fights before sending him to Las Vegas.
"But that would need an approval first from Coach Nonoy and the GAB," said Jimenez.
PHOTO: THE WITNESS. Jonel Dapidran's former coach-trainer Alex Recopelacion (right) of Digos City with MP Boxing Stable and Promotion trainer-matchmaker Joven jimenez in a recent meeting in Davao City. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)
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