ANG South African boxing, na mukhang nagulat sa matinding first-round knockout win ni Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong laban kay Zulu fighter Gideon Buthelezi nitong nakaraang Sabado ng gabi, ay nakiusap sa bagong Filipino champion na idepensa ang kanyang International Boxing Organization junior bantamweight title sa Agosto 31.
Ipinaalam ito ni Rodney Berman, may-ari ng Golden Gloves Boxing Promotion of South Africa, kay matchmaker Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, Jr. na ang Filipino champion ay makakasagupa si dating world miniflyweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi, isa ring South African, sa Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ibinalita naman ito ni Elorde kay dating North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol, ang manager ni Dapudong, kahapon. Sinabi naman ni Piñol na agad niya itong ipapaalam sa ALA Boxing Promotions ng Cebu City, ang Philippine promoter ni Dapudong.
Ang unang title defense ni Dapudong, na mangyayari na wala pang tatlong buwan matapos niyang mapanalunan ang titulo, ay bahagi ng three-fight option na inalok ng Golden Gloves kina Piñol at Dapudong na pirmahan bago naisagawa ang Hunyo 15 na return bout laban kay Buthelezi.
“Personally, I am not quite satisfied with the choice of the opponent because Joyi is coming from a loss also last June 15 to Hekkie Budler by split decision and will be moving up 10 lbs. in weight to fight Dapudong,” sabi ni Piñol.
“But this is a contractual obligation that we cannot turn our back from and we have to honor the contract that we signed allowing Golden Gloves to promote Dapudong’s first three title defenses.”
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