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Manila Bulletin

Opinion

Apolinario, Mananquil set for title bouts in South Africa

Opinion

Apolinario, Mananquil set for title bouts in South Africa

By Carlo Anolin

Sanman Boxing's Dave Apolinario and Ben Mananquil are all set for their respective title bouts in East London, South Africa on Friday, July 29.

Dave Apolinario (second from left) and Ben Mananquil (second from right) (Photo from Sanman Boxing)

Both Apolinario and Mananquil have arrived in South Africa as the former competes for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title while the latter fights for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental super flyweight belt.

The 23-year-old Apolinario hopes to end the country's world title drought when he takes on three-time world champion Gideon Buthelezi of South Africa in a classic youth versus experience storyline.

Apolinario, who won the WBA Asia flyweight strap last July 2021, remained unbeaten in 16 matches built on 11 knockouts while Buthelezi, 36, has a 23-5 record with five KOs.

He last saw action last February with a fifth-round technical knockout victory against Mike Kinaadman.

Apolinario's last five wins were either declared as TKO or corner stoppage.

Mananquil, for his part, clashes with undefeated South African pugilist Phumelele Cafu.

The 30-year-old Mananquil, who previously held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight title, holds a competitive record of 18 wins on top of five KOs, two losses, and three draws compared to Cafu's clean 5-0 slate.

His recent win came from a fourth-round corner retirement against Crison Omayao also last February.

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