by Ronnie Nathanielsz

The lawyers representing International Boxing Organization (IBO) Junior Bantamweight Champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong will file civil charges against TV executive Peter Chanliong of TV 5 who also apparently owns an independent company Elite Sports and also uses the name of Solar Sports in negotiating for fights despite resigning from Solar and joining the Manny Pangilinan network.

Dapudong’s manager Manny Pinol informed the Manila Standard that Chanliong’s “unauthorized interference caused the cancellation of the Nov. 9 title fight of the Filipino champion” against Zolani Tete in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pinol told the Standard that lawyer Israelito Torreon is collating all documentary evidence including email messages exchanged which showed that Chanliong negotiated with South African Promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions for the staging of the Dapudong title defense in the Philippines.

"This is plain and simple "Tortious Interference" punishable under our civil laws," said Torreon, who is now President of IBP Davao del Sur and Dean of the Cor Jesu College Law School.

Berman, in his message sent to Chanliong apparently to answer an inquiry agreed to the staging of the fight in the Philippines and when the Filipino TV executive who heads Elite Sports did not communicate further, the South African promoter cancelled the Nov. 9 title fight.

Former North Cotabato Governor  Pinol, who is the registered manager of Dapudong, said “Chanliong has no authority to negotiate on behalf of the Filipino champion.”

He explained that "We only have a contractual obligation with ALA Boxing Promotions which is our registered promoter and we have not authorized anybody to negotiate for the staging of the fight in the Philippines."

Atty. Torreon said the documentary evidence will prove the claim of the Filipino champion and his manager that Mr. Chanliong's interference and misrepresentation resulted in the cancellation of the title defense." As a result of the interference, the lawyer said, the Filipino champion will not be defending his title by November and will be inactive for the rest of the year.

Dapudong also faces the risk of losing his title because the IBO rules stipulate that a champion must defend his title within 9 months following his last title fight. He won the title June 15 by first round knockout of South African Gideon Buthelezi in Johannesburg.

Torreon said as soon as all pieces of documentary evidence are gathered the charges will immediately be filed as early as Monday next week "to seek redress for the injustice done to a Filipino world champion."

Dapudong who will be making the first defense of the world title is North Cotabato's first world champion and has been training for over one month now in preparation for the November 9 fight.