New world boxing champion Dave Apolinario paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Wednesday Aug. 3, at the Malacañang Palace.
Apolinario, who recently won the International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title, earlier arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1.
The 23-year-old boxer representing Sanman Promotions scored an emphatic first-round knockout win over South African opponent Gideon Buthelezi in East Londo, South Africa last July 29.
He remained undefeated in 17 straight matches on top of 12 knockouts.
The President lauded Apolinario for bringing pride and honor for the Philippines and even commended his unblemished record.
"Nagpapasalamat ang buong Pilipina sa'yo na pinasikat mo na naman kami. At gusto naming iwagayway ang ating bandila para mag-celebrate," said Marcos.
"Sa iyong pagkapanalo, masasabi namin na kaming mga Pilipino, 'We are world class.' 'Yan ang inyong ginawa."
Apolinario handed a pair of signed gloves to the President while Marcos, in return, signed another pair for the boxing champion and gave him a commemorative gold coin.
Though the IBO is not part of the four major sanctioning bodies, namely the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation, and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), and World Boxing Council (WBC), the Philippines earned its latest world boxing champion in Apolinario.
The country lost its recent champions after the defeats of Nonito Donaire and Mark Magsayo, who respectively held the WBC bantamweight and featherweight titles.
With the win, the Sarangani native boxer also improved his WBA ranking from No. 6 to No. 3 but maintained his No. 10 and No. 15 positions in the IBF and the WBO, respectively.
Meanwhile, Senator Bong Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, earlier field a resolution commending Apolinario for bagging the IBO flyweight title.
Senate Resolution No. 84 stated that Apolinario’s win is “a result of his hard work, dedication, and perseverance, which serves as an inspiration to all Filipino athletes."