The airing of the fights, the first of which was held on Nov. 10, 2012 which Dapudong lost by a controversial split decision after 12 rounds, comes exactly a month after the Filipino fighter from M'lang, North Cotabato exacted sweet revenge on June 15 by knocking out Buthelezi in the first round.
Both fights were held in the Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dapudong, who turned 27 last month, is a product of the grassroots boxing program which I started in 1998 when I became Governor of North Cotabato.
He was one of the young boys who comprised the provincial amateur boxing team. Dapudong was a gold medallist in the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Open Boxing Championships.
By winning the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Junior Bantamweight title, Dapudong, who hails from Barangay Pag-asa, M'lang, became the first world boxing champion from the province of North Cotabato.
Marivic Araneta, head of GMA Network Sports, said the show which will feature the 12-round first championship fight which ended in a split decision victory for Buthelezi and the second fight which Dapudong by KO in the first round, will be hosted by veteran boxing commentators Quinito Henson and Chino Trinidad.
Photo: World IBO Jr. Bantamweight Champion Edrin Dapudong with Chino Trinidad during the taping of the intro portion of the Dapudong-Buthelezi championship fights.
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