Marvin ?Good Boy? Mabait ready to make the most out of his rare title shot in DC
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Nov 2014
New York - In a few hours, Filipino bantamweight Marvin ?Good Boy? Mabait will make the most out of a rare opportunity that was given to him as a fighter. He will be vying for a world title in a Thursday night world championship fight at the nation?s capital against undefeated World Boxing Council Super Flyweight (115 pound) champion, Carlos Cuadras of Mexico.
Mabait, originally of Zamboanga City in the Philippines, is a last minute substitute as an opponent for the 30-0 (1 draw) Cuadras tonight at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. He replaced countryman and former world champ, Sonny Boy Jaro as the Mexican champion?s opponent last week. Jaro who arrived in DC on the first week of November was scrapped as Cuadras? opponent and was replaced by Mabait who now resides in New York City.
Both Mabait and Cuadras comfortably made the 115 pound weight limit for the title fight in yesterday?s weigh-in. Cuadras was 114.2 lbs. while Mabait was 113.8 lbs.
The 26 year-old Mabait?s last fight was eight months ago, losing by a 5th round TKO Alejandro Hernandez of Mexico. Hernandez, who was the underdog of that fight, took away his WBC Inter-Continental bantamweight belt with the upset victory over Mabait.
Mabait moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey and then to Queens, New York after suffering that humiliating loss. He also switched trainers and gym from Justin Fortune and Fortune?s Gym in L.A. to Lenny De Jesus and the Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, New Jersey. Both Fortune and De Jesus were involved and or currently involved with another of Mabait?s countryman, boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao. De Jesus will also be the cut man of Mabait?s stable mate, Michael Farenas this Saturday in Puerto Rico.
?Ito na po ung opportunity na hinahanap ko sir at minsan lang din mangyari ito, kaya I will do all my best na makuha ko ito.? Mabait told Philboxing.com this evening.
(This is the opportunity that I have been looking for and this rarely happens, that is why I will do all my best to get this.)
Mabait, who has been training in the East Coast for six months now, accepted the fight on short notice and despite him having to go down in weight (Mabait is a bantamweight) for this fight, because this gives him a chance to become a world champion.
Going down in weight has never been an issue for the Pinoy boxer, who together with his coach, diligently maintained his weight in the 120?s, during his long layoff. He was anticipating a fight in the 118 to 122 pound divisions but confident that he?ll make 115 pounds on short notice, he agreed to the fight with Cuadras.
?Maintained ko ang timbang ko sa 122 to 125 lang. Naisip ko 122 or 118 labanan ko pag meron,kaso 115 pala labanan ko.? Mabait said with a chuckle.
(I maintained my weight between 122 to 125 only. I thought that I?ll be fighting in 122 or 118 if something comes up, not knowing it?ll be at 115.)
Mabait is undeterred as the underdog to Cuadras and is confident despite fighting on short notice, of his chances tonight in the ring. He believes his hard work in the last six months will produce results against an undefeated champion who has knocked out 24 of his 30 opponents.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and is on Twitter @Freemazon910.
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