Dave Apolinario loses first title fight vs Mexican foe
At A Glance
- The pride of General Santos City just couldn’t hold on to the flurry of punches his Mexican foe Angel Ayala rained down on him, failing to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation world flyweight title after suffering a sixth round knockout loss on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).
Dave Apolinario could only sulk on one corner in a picture of an agonizing defeat. Clueless and shell-shocked.
He was predicted to have the firepower to end the fight via knockout but ended up the one succumbing to the vicious body shots.
The pride of General Santos City just couldn’t hold on against the flurry of punches his Mexican foe Angel Ayala rained down on him, failing to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation world flyweight title after suffering a sixth round knockout loss on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Manila time).
Dictating the fight right from the onset, even leaving Ayala’s left eye already swollen through four rounds, a short hook to body from Ayala completely changed the complexion of the contest as Apolinario fell to his knees the first time midway through the sixth.
He got back up and pressed the fight to Ayala but the slight retaliation proved futile in the end as the Mexican caught Apolinario on the ropes and chopped him down like a tree trunk with booming body shots to send him back to the canvas.
This time, Apolinario couldn’t find the strength to stand as the fight, initially scheduled for 12 rounds, ended with still 51 seconds remaining on the sixth -- much to the delight of the crowd inside the Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico City.
Ayala kept his record perfect through 18 fights with eight knockouts while Apolinario absorbed his first taste defeat and slid to a 20-1 record with 14 KOs.
He lost on his first shot at claiming a world title, failing to join Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran as the country’s reigning champion.
The 25-year-old did look to be on his way to joining them after showing great power and precision in the opening rounds. He often found his left straight powering through Ayala’s defense and connecting.
The punishment from Apolinario was already visible through four rounds with his left eye already swollen. After being warned for a low blow on Apolinario, Ayala began fighting back in the fifth frame, staggering Apolinario with a combination to the body and the head.
That proved to be the prelude to the impressive Round 6 from Ayala as he powered through a thrilling exchange early in the round before delivering the game-changing body shot.