DAPUDONG ROLLS THE DICE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 27 Jun 2011
It has happened before but it is quite rare. That is why we remember those who succeeded in spectacular fashion. I?m talking about ?last minute? invitations for a world title fight. The Bad Boy from Dadiangas, Rolando Navarrete, as a last minute fill-in, knocked out Cornelius Boza-Edwards in five rounds in Via Reggio, Italy for the WBC superfeatherweight title in 1981.
Lehlohonolo Ledwaba was supposed to make his title defense against Manny Pacquiao of Gen. Santos City as a launching pad for ring recognition in the United States. Ledwaba was scheduled to fight Enrique Sanchez, who sustained a cut during training and was forced to withdraw.
Almost twenty years after Navarrete rose to the occasion, Pacquiao agreed to take the fight on two weeks notice and won the IBF superbantamweight title, stopping Ledwaba in six brutal rounds. The rest as they say, is history.
Now, someone from the northern part of Cotabato got the call.
Edrin ?The Sting? Dapudong last fought on June 11 and beat Benja Loemoli of Indonesia by 4th round TKO. Less than ten days later came the breaking news that he would fight WBA flyweight champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez.
Looking at a few fans? comments, there are varying opinions about the wisdom of this venture. You can call it a gamble, a calculated risk or just plain recklessness. But a title shot is a title shot. There was a time when it was so hard to get one; especially when there was only one sanctioning body, especially during the time when Filipino boxers did not get that much publicity and/or respect.
Dapudong is soft spoken and has never been a source of clever quotables during press conferences. Sportswriters have to squeeze the words right out of him. But make no mistake, he can fight. Hardcore Cebu boxing fans still remember his scintillating battle with the popular Bert Batawang two years ago at the Cebu Coliseum.
He never maximized his time under the spotlight when he scored a major win in Mexico for the WBC Silver flyweight title. Former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pi?ol was man enough to take the blame, attributed to errors in the training regimen, when his fighter lost.
When all is said and done, it will be Dapudong who will enter a Mexican ring for the third time. Boxers always risk their well being and career every time they step inside the ring. The stakes will be higher this July 2. That is why we remember the names of those who succeed.
(Top photo - Dapudong pummels Sofyan Effendi)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
Wed, 10 Sep 2025CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
Tue, 09 Sep 2025GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Sep 2025