World champ survives ordeal

It was a monster challenge that newly-crowned IBO flyweight champion Dave Apolinario hurdled in claiming the vacant throne via a first-round knockout of Gideon Buthelezi in East London, South Africa, last Friday. First, Apolinario, manager JC Manangquil of General Santos City’s SanMan stable and trainer Ronerex Dalut endured an exhausting journey from Manila to East London via Bangkok and Johannesburg to arrive the day before the weigh-in. That wasn’t the original plan. Apolinario’s team was supposed to land in East London five days before the fight but the South African promoter made a late change in flight arrangements. It meant fighting off jet lag, odd sleeping hours and a topsy-turvy eating schedule. The trip back home took about 45 hours, including a 22-hour layover in Ethiopia.

Second, they arrived in South Africa without their luggage. Apolinario’s fighting shoes and other gear were in his luggage that came in the day after the bout. So he had to buy new shoes, underwear and everyday necessities. Luckily, Filipinos in East London came to their rescue. Third, Apolinario fought without a cup protector. He was provided a gartered athletic supporter by the promoter but it wouldn’t protect from foul blows. Manangquil refused to allow Apolinario to fight unless the promoter provided a cup protector but in the end, relented. Apolinario agreed to fight without the protector. Fourth, there was no friendly face among the referee and judges. The referee Lulama Miyta and two judges Alan Matakane and Simphiwe Mbini were South Africans. The other judge Roger Barnor was from Ghana. Fifth, Buthelezi was no pushover. He’s a former IBO minimumweight, lightflyweight and superflyweight champion with a list of Filipino victims Ryan Rey Ponteras, Edrin Dapudong, Julius Alcos and Ronelle Ferreras. A blemish in his record was a first-round KO loss to Dapudong in a rematch in 2013. Buthelezi, 36, had won nine in a row before facing Apolinario. Finally, this was Apolinario’s first overseas outing so the experience was brand new.

But Apolinario came prepared to battle. He sparred with veterans and former world title challengers Richie Mepranum, Randy Petalcorin and Joey Canoy, taking from their savvy to get ready for his first championship shot. Weight was no problem as he scaled 111 3/4 for the match that had a limit of 112. Three months ago, Apolinario’s mother Lolita, 56, died of complications from a urinary tract infection and rabies in the family hometown in Sarangani. He promised his dying mother he would win a world title and take care of his four brothers and two sisters with his father Carlos, a construction worker. Apolinario, 23, is the youngest of five boys. His brothers Michael, Stephen, John Mark and Paul were former pros. The first thing Apolinario plans to do when he gets home is to visit his mother in the cemetery and lay his championship belt on her grave.

Apolinario is the ninth Filipino to win an IBO (International Boxing Organization) title. The IBO isn’t as widely recognized as the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO but it’s been around for 34 years and Tyson Fury, Saul Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez were among its champions. Apolinario is the ninth Filipino IBO titlist after lightweight Amado Cabato in 1994, minimumweight Noel Tunacao in 2003, flyweight Nonito Donaire, Jr. in 2007-09, superlightweight Manny Pacquiao in 2009, superflyweight Dapudong in 2013, superflyweight Rey Loreto in 2014-15, lightflyweight Milan Melindo in 2017 and bantamweight Michael Dasmariñas in 2018.