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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Dave Apolinario vies for vacant IBF flyweight crown in Mexico

Dave Apolinario vies for vacant IBF flyweight crown in Mexico

Published Aug 8, 2024 06:26 am

At A Glance

  • Undefeated Filipino boxer Dave Apolinario takes his shot at becoming a world champion when he takes on Mexican Angel Ayala for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).
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Undefeated Filipino boxer Dave Apolinario takes his shot at becoming a world champion when he takes on Mexican Angel Ayala for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).

 

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Dave Apolinario (third from the left) and Mexican Angel Ayala (fifth) face off for the first time during their pre-fight press conference (Sanman Boxing photo)

Months removed after winning in Japan, where most of his compatriots fell victim and lost, the 25-year-old proud son of General Santos City also aims to conquer the land of the Mexicans – familiar rivals to Filipino boxers in the past – as he battles in the bout scheduled for 12 rounds at the Restaurante Arroyo in CDMX, Mexico.

Apolinario, after overcoming struggles with his travel papers as well as the grueling flight from Manila to Tokyo and then Tokyo to Mexico, has already settled in and vowed to give a fight to remember against Ayala.

“Maraming salamat, maraming salamat kay Angel Ayala at sa mga nandito. Maraming salamat  napakaganda po ng lugar. I love Mexico,” said Apolinario during the fight press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 7

“Sa laban namin siguro magandang laban ipapakita namin para maenjoy ng mga manonood,” added the Filipino pug who has never tasted defeat through 20 fights with 14 knockouts to boast.

Ayala, though, is certainly not a pushover as he was likewise undefeated through 17 fights with 14 KOs. The home crowd, for one, is expected to rally behind him especially since all of his victories happened right on his home soil.

Apolinario, who is hoping to become the country’s third world champion and join Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran, has full confidence with his preparations and expressed readiness to fight even in the high altitude Mexico City that is on a 7,350-feet elevation.

“I trained for three months for the fight. As for the style of Ayala, I've been watching his fights. He's very good and explosive but you’ll see something I prepared for him. I'll do my best,” said Apolinario, who is with promoter JC Mananquil, manager Mike Pelayo and trainer Ronerex Dalut.

“It’s a really big opportunity for me, especially since it's a world title and I’ll make sure I'll do everything to win,” he added.

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