Gretchen Abaniel Wins WIBA Asia Pacific Crown
By Salvador Lopez
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Sep 2007
Rising talent Gretchen Abaniel captured the Women?s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Asia Pacific minimum-weight crown when she defeated Li Hai Li via an 8-round unanimous decision in last night?s main event of the Bakbakan sa Elorde held at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat Paranaque.
Abaniel had some difficulty cutting off the ring against the fleet-footed Li but somehow find some ways to score peppering the Chinese lass? face with light combinations using her blinding hand speed. The fine looking Li did score some nice jobs on occasions but was simply outclassed by the technically superior Abaniel who had the Chinese on the verge of a stoppage in the 6th round when the Filipino lady somewhat found her range and was able to land some hard punches. Abaniel continued to press her assault in the last two rounds but the Chinese fighting on a survival mode managed to hang on to last the distance. All three judges scored the fight 80-72 for Abaniel.
In the supporting main event, Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar scored a 2nd round TKO over RP #10 flyweight Arnel Tadena in their light-flyweight bout. Fighting against a shorter opponent with a smaller frame, Rubillar, after a cautious first round, began pounding Tadena with his patented body hooks of which the latter succumbed shortly thereafter refusing to rise to his feet after he was knocked down by a Rubillar combination to the body.
In another supporting event, prospect Raymond Sermona remained unbeaten scoring a majority decision win against Cris Dujali in their 120-lb fight. It was a toe-to-toe battle where Sermona?s harder punching decided the outcome.
In what should be his biggest test so far as a professional, seven time national amateur champion Warlito ?Wars? Parrenas had a surprisingly easy time against RP #12 junior flyweight contender Richard Garcia in their flyweight bout knocking the latter out in 1:22 of the 6th round after dominating the earlier rounds. A single stiff right uppercut dropped Garcia to the canvas and was immediately counted out.
The light-flyweight bout between Michael Landero and Gerald Garcia was a very competitive fight but Landero?s crisp uppercuts and body punching, especially in the latter rounds, pulled him the win. (Judges? scorecards: 58-56, 58-56, and 59-56).
In another fight involving lady boxers, Geremie "Ca Cai" Tabastabas had a tough time against the vastly improved Baina Londo but did enough to win via a unanimous decision. Tabastabas appeared cruising to an easy victory during the early going but soon found herself coping with Londo?s terrific body punching. Tabastabas, after experiencing some troubles in the 2nd round was more active in the closing rounds tagging the much shorter Londo with hard jabs and straights.
Below are the results of the remaining fights:
Bantamweight Jayson Layson won a very close unanimous decision (56-55, 57-55, 56-55) against Agapito Bolima to end a minor losing streak and in the process, inflicted the latter?s first professional defeat;
Flyweight Marco Niones rebounded from a first round flash knockdown to score a close unanimous decision win (38-37, 39-37,38-37) against Celestino Oniok;
BJ Dolorosa won his flyweight bout against Joey Balmes via a technical unanimous decision (39-36, 39-37, 38-37);
Robel Villegas scored a knockdown each in the 1st and 2nd rounds to score another UD win against Ryan Rinos with all three judges tallying an identical score of 39-35; and
Marlon Peculados won a closely contested fight via a majority decision (38-38, 39-38, 39-37) against a fighter whose name is Fidel V. Ramos (who obviously, is not the former president).
Top photo: Gretchen Abaniel (L) exchanges leathers with Jessica Oyang in this file photo of their fight last April in Victorias, Negros Occidental. Abaniel won by 2nd round TKO over Oyang. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salvador Lopez.
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