MANILA – Dave Apolinario stunned South African Gideon Buthelezi with a first-round knockout to capture the IBO World flyweight title on Saturday in at the International Convention Center in East London, South Africa.
The Maasin, Sarangani native scored the massive win in his career so far after connecting a left hook to the jaw and a right straight to the body that sent Buthelezi to the ground.
Buthelezi, a three-division world boxing champion, still attempted to stand up but was unable to beat the referee’s count to formalize the upset win of Apolinario.
Apolinario is currently the only Filipino boxer to handle a world title following recent losses of
Jerwin Ancajas, Nonito Donaire Jr. and Mark Magsayo in their title defenses and Negrense Donnie Nietes also losing his world title match.
The 23-year-old Apolinario, which is being handled by the Sanman Promotions of Jim Claude Manangquil, kept his unbeaten record of 17-0-0 while also tallying his 12th stoppage win.
The 36-year-old Buthelezi, on the other hand, saw his boxing record dropped to 23-6-0, including five knockout victories. The loss snapped the African’s nine-game winning run.
Buthelezi is a familiar name to Filipino boxing fans. He had defeated several Pinoy boxers in Edrin Dapudong, Ryan Rey Pontreras, Julius Alcos, and Ronlle Ferreras.
In the co-main event, Ben Mananquil did not have the same fate as Apolinario. He suffered a fifth round stoppage loss to African Phumelele Cafu for the WBA Intercontinental super flyweight title.
Both fighters were highly-engaged in the first four rounds until the South African fighter got his much-needed break in the fifth frame to finish off Mananquil.
With the loss, Mananquil saw his boxing record dropped to 18-3-3, with five stoppage victories, while Cafu improved his slate to 6-0-3 with all his wins by way of knockouts./PN
