Dapudong gets new crack at world title

EDRIN ‘The Sting’ Dapudong of the Braveheart Boxing Stable of North Cotabato will get another crack at the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super flyweight title when he tangles defending champion Gideon Buthelezi of South Africa in a rematch scheduled on June 15 at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dapudong (28W-5L, 16 KOs) lost to Buthelezi (13W-3L, 4 KOs) by split decision last November 10, 2012 in a fight also held in South Africa. The verdict was disputed by Dapudong’s manager, former Governor Manny Pinol of North Cotabato after Dapudong scored a knockdown in the ninth round of that fight.

A rematch was ordered by the IBO last year and was supposed to have been staged in February but the South African promoters moved it to June.

Dapudong reigned as a WBC Silver flyweight titlist in 2010 and has fought in Cebu four times beating Ruther del Castillo (UD8) and Bert Batawang (TKO 7) in 2009 and Indonesians Sofyan Effendi (TKO7) and Benja Loemoli (TKO4) in 2011.

Buthelezi is also a former IBO light flyweight champion.