SINGAPORE RUMBLE: Abapo challenges Bahari tonight
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 15 Jun 2006
Philippine junior welter champ Bart Abapo attempts to re-write boxing history today as he challenges Pan Asia Boxing Association super-lightweight king Daudy Bahari in a 12-round showdown in the mainer of the black-tie event at the Swissotel The Stamford in Singapore.
If victorious, the ALA boy Abapo gets the recognition as the first person to win a crown in Singapore after the colony returned to promoting professional boxing after a 20-year hiatus.
At yesterday's weigh-in presided by PABA director-general Alan Kim, Bahari came in at 139.4 lbs, while Abapo tipped the scales at a fit and ready 138.8 lbs in advance of their 12-round showdown today, which headlines a six-bout card that will be televised 'live' by Star Sports starting 10PM RP time.
Bahari (28-1-1, 11 KO's) has his work cut out for him today against a tough Abapo (17-5-3, 12 KO's), who is in tremendous shape for his biggest break so fa
Singapore, known in the 1940s and 1950s as "The Mecca of Boxing" in Asia, produced many top-notch pros, including Bud and Boy Wally who campaigned successfully in the US and the UK, Ignacio Fernandez (who kayoed Al Singer) and the like and attracted some of the best of the era to box there, including
Ventura Marquis, Dave and Alfie Sands, Yolande Pompey, Hector Constance and many others.
The last Singaporean professional who boxed with some success in Thailand and Japan was lightweight Noor Hassan some 38 years ago.
Two Singaporean boxers join the pro ranks as bantamweight Mohamad Nor Rizan and cruiserweight David Alexis will be the first Singaporeans in 40 years to turn professional. They take on Indonesians Hendrik Borneo and Yasser Kadafi respectively.
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