By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Maybe it’s a Filipino thing, or an IBO thing.
Either way, the method in which two recent natives of the Southeast Asian island cluster won jewelry sanctioned by the International Boxing Organization was similar in its execution – if not its significance.
Edrin Dapudong, a 27-year-old who’s been a pro since 2005, picked up his initial career world title belt – the IBO’s super flyweight championship – with a blasting cap of a left hand that ignited on the chin of incumbent Gideon Buthelezi, sent him face-first to the floor and ended his title reign.
The fireworks came four years, a month and 13 days after another islander you might have heard of – a seven-division kid by the name of Pacquiao – delivered his own buggy-whip of a left hand that put Ricky Hatton flat on his back and gave the IBO junior welterweight belt a sudden new owner.
To the surprise of no one with a remote handle on geography, the 34-year-old Pacquiao is idolized by Dapudong, who speaks of his role model with a reverence. Adding to the thrill of his achievement, the student stopped by the teacher’s house shortly after his big win to talk shop and compare bling.
“My manager, (Emmanuel) Pinol, is a close friend of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao. (We) went to General Santos City, which is only about three hours away from my hometown, and i showed him my IBO championship belt,” Dapudong said. “He immediately told me, ‘I also have this.’ I knew he was referring to the IBO championship belt he won when he knocked out Ricky Hatton.
