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Apolinario makes weight, guns for world title vs Mexican foe

Sports | Boxing

Apolinario makes weight, guns for world title vs Mexican foe

By Reynald I. Magallon

At A Glance

Dave Apolinario shoots for the stars as he takes on undefeated Mexican Angel Ayala for the vacant International Boxing Federation world flyweight crown at the Arroyo Restaurante in Mexico City on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).

Dave Apolinario shoots for the stars as he takes on undefeated Mexican Angel Ayala for the vacant International Boxing Federation world flyweight crown at the Arroyo Restaurante in Mexico City on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).

Angel Ayala and Dave Apolinario face off after the weigh in (Zanfer Boxing)

Apolinario is coming in as a slight underdog in the bout scheduled for 12 rounds, considering that he is lower ranked of the two, but he is nonetheless out to show the firepower that kept his record unblemished through 20 bouts with 14 knockouts.

Ayala, younger by a year at 24 years old, also aims to keep his perfect slate of 17 wins with no defeats and seven KOs, all while claiming his first world title before his home crowd

Apolinario, a proud son of General Santos City, tipped the scales at 111.6lbs, very well inside the 112 lbs weight limit while Ayala came a little lighter at 110.8lbs.

The 25-years-old Filipino southpaw, nicknamed ‘Dobberman’, is coming off an impressive fourth round knockout win over Thai foe Tanes Ongjunta in Japan to earn his first world title shot. He is ranked third in the IBF and 10th in the World Boxing Organization rankings.

On the other hand, Ayala is rated first in the IBF and fourth in the WBO.

“This is a very important fight. This fight, I improved my skills, my power punch and my IQ. (It’s) a big difference right now (as compared to my last fight),” said Apolinario.

“I think it will be a good fight. Angel Ayala is a good fighter. I’m still undefeated. Ayala is still undefeated. It’s a good fight,” he added.

Apolinario is hoping to join Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran as the country’s only current world champions.

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