Manila – President Benigno S. Aquino III sent a short but personal congratulatory message to the new Filipino world boxing champion after Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong knocked out South African Gideon Buthelezi in Johannesburg last Saturday.
“Congrats po,” Pres. Aquino said in a short text message sent to the Team Dapudong in South Africa shortly after he was informed of the North Cotabato boxer’s victory.
In a text message I sent to the President to inform him of Dapudong’s spectacular win, I emphasized that the new boxing champion is a product of a grassroots boxing program which I started when I was Governor of North Cotabato.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay is expected to receive the new world boxing champion on Friday in a courtesy call to be made by Dapudong.
Businessman Hermie Esguerra, himself a boxing fan, informed me that Vice President Binay was very happy with the victory of Dapudong which came following the successive losses of Filipino fighters in the world boxing stage.
It started with the loss of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao last year and followed by the defeat of Nonito Donaire Jr. and Brian Viloria.
Dapudong, 27, from Barangay Pag-asa, M’lang, North Cotabato, is now one of the three reigning world boxing champions from the Philippines. The two others are Donnie Nietes and Johnriel Casimiro.
On June 28, another Filipino, Denver Cuello, will travel to Dubai, UAE to challenge the Chinese champion for the WBC Miniflyweight Champion.
(Photo caption: Photo downloaded from “n.squared photo” shows the killer left hook which Dapudong connected that knocked out South African champion Gideon Buthelezi.)
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