The Philippines’ Dave Apolinario fights Mexico’s Angel Ayala in a flyweight world title fight in Mexico City.—Photo from Angel Ayala’s Instagram

MANILA, Philippines—Dave Apolinario failed to add to the list of current Filipino boxing champions on Saturday.

In his first major world title fight, Apolinario was knocked out by home bet Angel Ayala in the sixth round of their flyweight bout at Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico City.

“Thank you po sa supporta and prayers ninyo sa aking laban. Thank you Lord God sa safety and protection. Salamat din po ng marami bossing Mike Pelayo JC Manangquil Sanman Boxing Ronerex Dalut Edward Pagonzaga. Salamat sa walang sawang supporta galing sa mga pamilya ko. Hindi lng po hangang dito ang laban. Babawi at babalik tayo na malakas ulit🙏 Thank you,” Apolinario posted on social media.

Apolinario was decked twice in the sixth with the first knockdown off vicious body shot by Ayala.

Smelling blood, Ayala took his time before unleashing another left to the body before finishing with a flurry resulting in a second knockdown in which Apolinario couldn’t recover from.

Ayala claimed the vacant IBF belt and hiked his undefeated record to 18-0 with 8 knockouts.

Apolinario, who hails from Sarangani, was hoping to become the third Filipino to win a world title this year after Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran.

Jerusalem won the WBC mini-flyweight strap last March while Taduran scored a major upset when he knocked out Ginjiro Shigeoka for the IBF crown in the same 105-pound division just exactly two weeks ago in Japan.

The loss to Ayala was also the 25-year-old Apolinario’s first after starting his pro career at 20-0 with 14KOs.