World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight champion Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong leaves for the US Sept. 4 along with his training team to prepare for his fight against Mexican and NABO flyweight champion Wilbert Uicab in Cancun, Mexico on Sept. 17.
The 25-year-old champion, a shy farm boy known as the Barefoot Boxing Prince who shocked Mexican boxing when he knocked out former wold No. 1 ranked flyweight Jesus Jimenez in the first round June 19, will spend one week of training with conditioning coach Justin Fortune at the Fortune Gym in South Hollywood near Los Angeles before flying to Mexico on Sept. 12.
The fight against the hard-punching Uicab, called the Hurricane by his handlers, will be Dapudong’s first defense of the silver flyweight crown, a new title which replaced the Interim Championships of the WBC. It will determine whether North Cotabato’s first world boxing champion deserves the No. 3 Pound for Pound Filipino fighter rank bestowed on him by boxrec.com, after boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Jr.
Dapudong, who stands 5’ 5” and is considered big for a flyweight, will be accompanied by his manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Piñol and chief trainer Noli Piñol.
International matchmaker Samson Gelloani and well-known US-based promoter Sampson Lewkowicz who are handling the business side of Dapudong’s career said they are lining up the Mindanao-born fighter for bigger fights after Uicab.
“There are three names that we can mention right now: Wongjongkam Pongsaklek (WBC flyweight champion), Pingo Miranda (WBO flyweight champion) and Omar Nino (WBC junior flyweight champion),” said Gelloani who believes that Dapudong possesses the qualities of a great champion.
The unassuming and humble champion, also known to his close friends as “Bungisngis” because he is quick to laughter, could take on the three champions and come up with a great performance, according to his trainer Noli. [Carlos Bautista]
