Pinoy pug Dapudong loses by split decision

EDRIN  “The Sting” Dapudong failed in his bid to win the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) superflyweight title in South Africa as he lost by a narrow split decision to hometown boy Gideon Buthelezi in a fight held at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park yesterday.

Judges Tony Nyangiwa of South Africa and Michael Pernick of the USA scored it 115-112 and 115-113 for Buthelezi while judge Reg Thompson of the United Kingdom had it 114-113 for Dapudong.

The verdict was disputed by former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pinol and promoter and trainer Aljoe Jaro, who accompanied Dapudong in South Africa.

In a fight report posted on philboxing.com, Dapudong was the one who landed the harder punches and even scored a knockdown in the ninth round.

Fight photos posted on the website also showed welts on Buthelezi’s face while Dapudong’s face was relatively unmarked. Jaro was reported to have told Dapudong to go for a knockout because if the fight went the distance, it would favor the South African.

Dapudong suffered his fifth career loss for a 27W-5L-1D, 15 KOs record. Buthelezi improved to 13W-3L, 4 KOs.

This is the third IBO title for Buthelezi, who is a former IBO minimuweight and light flyweight champion.

The 26-year-old Dapudong, who fights out of the Braveheart Boxing Gym of North Cotabato, lost by third-round stoppage to WBA flyweight champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez last year in Sonora, Mexico. /correspondent  Rene Bonsubre,Jr