By CARLO ANOLIN
Dave Apolinario scored an emphatic first round knockout win against South African Gideon Buthelezi to capture the vacant International Boxing Organization flyweight title Friday, July 29, at the International Convention Center in East London, South Africa.
Apolinario unleashed a wild combination and thankfully, his hefty left hook sent Buthelezi down the canvas to remain unbeaten in 17 straight matches and improve with 12 knockouts.
The 23-year-old Sanman Boxing talent gave the Philippines its first world boxing champion following recent defeats of Nonito Donaire and Mark Magsayo, who respectively held the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight and featherweight titles.
Apolinario actually floored Buthelezi with 10 seconds remaining but the referee completed the count that formally sealed the deal for the Sarangani native boxer.
His win would likely boost his rankings further among other world sanctioning bodies.
Apolonario, nicknamed “Dobermann,” was ranked No. 6, No. 10, and No. 15 in the by the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation, and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), respectively.
Buthelezi, 36, for his part, slipped to a 23-6 record with five KOs.
Meanwhile, Ben Mananquil, Apolinario’s stablemate, wasn’t as fortunate as he absorbed a fifth-round stoppage loss to Phumelala Cafu in their junior bantamweight bout.
