Dapudong Mauls and Floors Buthelezi  But Loses Title Fight By Split Decision 

Johannesburg, South Africa – Boxing fans who labelled Timothy Bradley’s victory over boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as one of the greatest boxing robberies of all time have not seen the worst. 

Last night, Nov. 10, in the posh Emperor Palace Hotel Casino Resort Pavilion, North Cotabato’s Edrin Dapudong turned South African Gideon Buthelezi’s face into a bloody mess and then floored the local fighter with his signature left hook in the ninth round but lost the championship bout for the IBO Junior Bantamweight Title by split decision. 

It was a fight which almost everybody who saw it, including Buthelezi’s cornermen whose faces were gloomy before the winner was announced, thought belonged to Dapudong as he pursued the South African all throughout the fight turning the local fighter’s face into a red pulp as early as the first round. 

In three or four instances that Buthelezi stood toe to toe with the North Cotabato fighter, Dapudong held his ground and pummeled the South African with powerful body punches. 

There were at least two or three rounds when Buthelezi connected with weak punches which Dapudong merely shrugged off. 

Going towards the last four rounds of the title fight, Dapudong convinced everybody that he was the better fighter when he connected with a well-timed left cross that sent Buthelezi to the canvas for a mandatory eight count. 

But Dapudong’s performance was not enough to convince all three judges to give the fight to him and award him with the world title. 

It was only the British judge from London, Reg Thompson, who saw Dapudong the winner by a wide margin while the South African judge, Tony Nyangiwe, living up to South African boxing tradition, and American Michael Pernick from Miami, gave the fight to Buthelezi. 

“How could your boy have lost that fight?”, asked a member of the television crew which covered the event for South Africa’s Super Sport TV. 

He said even before the referee announced the winner, the members of the TV coverage team concluded that the IBO championship belt would be leaving South Africa. 

It was not to be. What Buthelezi failed to do inside the ring, the two judges made up for it. 

Dapudong was actually briefed before the fight of the perils of fighting in South Africa which is notorious for its hometown decision. 

Trainer Aljo Jaro who was at his corner told Dapudong to go for a knockout because if the fight goes the distance, the referees will do their job. 

It was exactly what happened. 

Photo caption: Buthelezi’s face was rearranged by Dapudong but he was declared champion.