Greek boxer nicknamed the ‘Pulgar of boxing’ reveals admiration for Flamengo
A physical coincidence and a shared passion for sports have connected Greek boxer Korina Daponte to Flamengo fans. The 24-year-old athlete from Athens earned the nickname ‘Pulgar of boxing’ on social media due to her striking resemblance to the Chilean player Erick Pulgar. In an exclusive interview with Coluna do Fla, Daponte discussed the viral sensation and shared details about her connection to the Rio de Janeiro club.
The comparison to Pulgar emerged after a photo went viral online, highlighting their similar physical features and style. The Flamengo jersey Daponte wore in a video—which intensified her connection with the fans—was a gift from her boyfriend, who is an admirer of the Rubro-Negro.
The boxer explained:
The same hair, the same style of tattoos, that random photo… and the same passion for sports, each of us on our own side. The fans simply did the rest.
She added:
Someone very close to me had a Flamengo shirt because of his admiration for the club. Because of the interaction and support from the fans, it was a really pleasant experience training while wearing it.
Prior knowledge and fascination with the club
Even before her sudden fame, Korina Daponte was already aware of Flamengo. The athlete follows football and other sports, and the reaction she received motivated her to research more about the club’s history.
Daponte admitted:
I had already heard of the team, as I follow football and other sports besides boxing. To be honest, I dug a little deeper into the club’s history because of everything that happened, and I was impressed.
Dream of fighting in Brazil and connection with the fans
Despite her physical similarity to Erick Pulgar, Korina Daponte has not yet had the opportunity to speak with the player, as she remains focused on her career and training. However, she expressed great satisfaction with the affection she has received from Brazilians.
She stated:
To be honest, I’m enjoying it because the Brazilian fan culture seems to resonate with me.
The boxer revealed her desire to visit the country:
I would even love to have a boxing match there, so the fans could go and see me fight.
The athlete left a special message for the Nação Rubro-Negra (the Red and Black Nation):
The ‘Nação Rubro-Negra’ has an incredible energy, with fantastic culture and mindset. Thank you all so much for the support! I hope you are all boxing fans now, haha.
To top it off, Daponte has already learned a phrase in Portuguese: “Joga Bonito! Vamos” (Play beautifully! Let’s go).
Korina Daponte‘s story demonstrates how sports can create unexpected connections, bringing cultures closer together and generating mutual admiration between athletes and fans, even in different disciplines. A potential fight in Brazil would be an exciting chapter in this intersection between boxing and the passion for Flamengo.
