By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former Cotabato governor Manny Pinol says he has five more fighters like newly - crowned World Boxing Council silver flyweight champion Edren Dapudong “just waiting for a break.”

On a distressing weekend for Philippine boxing, where four fighters figured in title fights and all of them lost, the comparatively unknown Dapudong scored a sensational 1st round knockout over highly-favored Jesus  “Destroyer” Jimenez who had 20 knockouts in 28 wins with 5 losses - stunning the large Mexican crowd in the picturesque tourist province of Nayarit.

Dapudong carried the name of the “Brave Heart” Gym of Pinol and proved that he was not awed by the reputation of the 28 year old Jimenez as a KO artist neither was he bothered by the predominantly hometown crowd.

In a text message to us, governor Pinol who is also a longtime media man told us that Dapudong “is really a talent” and even cried even before the bout started because he couldn’t believe he was in a ring in Mexico fighting for a prestigious world title and cried again when Jimenez was counted out at the joy of winning.

Pinol said they are still in Salinas, California visiting some relatives and are “coming home on Saturday which happens to be Dapudong’s 24th birthday.”

Among the promising fighters in his stable being trained by Pinol’s brother Noli who was in Dapudong’s corner are WBO Oriental super bantamweight champion Rolando “Smooth Operator” Magbanua (17-1, 12 KO’s) who won the title with a 6th round TKO over Mexico’s Jose Angel Cota on February 21, 2009, featherweight Lorenzo “Thunderbolt” Villanueva, a southpaw with a record of  17-0, 16 KO’s who won the WBO Oriental featherweight crown with a 2nd round KO of Eric Macas on February 14 this year, Jundy “Pretty Boy” Maraon the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion who won the title with a 3rd round knockout of Jason Egera on February 21, 2009 and Rommel “The Little Assassin” Asenjo who won the vacant WBO Oriental minimum weight title last February 14  with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jetly Purisima.

Among the other young fighters in the Braveheart stable are Jermie Jabel, Rey Juntilla and Richard “Lion Heart” Betos.