The Ninja vs. The Sting: This Is Not A Video Game
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Apr 2009
This match up sounds like something out of the Mortal Combat video game but this fight is for real. The co-main event of this Saturday's Thriller in April fight card at the Cebu Coliseum promises to be a real rough and tumble affair.
Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong of the Braveheart Stable of No.Cotabato will attempt to wrest the WBO Oriental jr. flyweight belt from Bert ?The Ninja? Batawang of the SGG Stable of Cebu City. The defending champ is 16years older and has a wealth of experience and is going into the 19th year of his professional career.
Batawang has lost to quality fighters like Muhammad Rachman by 10 round decision in 2002 and in his title shot against then IBF world light flyweight champion Ulises Solis by 9th round TKO in 2007. He won the vacant WBO Oriental light flyweight belt over Samransak Singmanasak of Thailand by fourth round TKO last year.
Dapudong (13W-2L, 7KO's) turned pro in 2005. Last June 2007, he scored a third round TKO win over Thai Sakmanee Sitkamnanchaliaw for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth minimumweight title in Kidapawan City. He lost a ten round decision to former IBF minimumweight world champ Muhammad Rachman by ten round decision in 2008.
Both fighters exuded confidence during the press conference held Thursday morning at the Baseline Restaurant in Cebu City. North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol said during the press con that his fighters have been trained to be excellent body punchers. He said this as a warning to the present and future opponents of the Braveheart boxers.
This fight may steal the thunder away from the fight card?s headliners Rolando ?Smooth Operator? Magbanua vs. Wan Sithsaithong.
This fight card will also feature a couple of historic firsts. This will be the first time that TIBAY boxing gloves, which are made in Cebu, will be used in a major event. These are punchers gloves which will fit the style of the protagonists. The Cebu Coliseum fight card can be seen for free via www.pinoyboxingtv.com and/or www.philboxingtv.com. The preferred browser is Internet explorer with the following instructions: On the warning or info bar that appears above the page (below the header), right click and install or run active X. Wait for a few seconds, a Umedia installer will pop out. Just click ok or install. Click the refresh button near the address bar (or F5 on the keyboard)
CCTN Ch. 47 will also be airing the bouts on a delayed and installment basis. Fight time is 7 p.m.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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