Gabi in prime shape for Darchinyan
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Feb 2006
Filipino Diosdado ?Prince? Gabi is well aware of all the media publicity that IBF flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan has been getting lately, including a dare to fight Jorge Arce, in effect looking past him, but the Freddie Roach prot?g? has refused to engage Darchinyan in a talkfest, opting to focus all his energies in the gym as he prepares for what will be a most brutal beating he will dish out to this Australian loudmouth when they square off on March 3 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Sta. Ynez, California.
Diosdado Gabi poses at Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
?Darchinyan is very confident and already looking past me, but he has some weaknesses and technical flaws that I believe I can capitalize on. I am very comfortable with my strategy and confident in my ability to outbox him,? Gabi said after his media workout as quoted by EastsideBoxing.
To prepare for the hard-hitting Darchinyan, Gabi has sparred against WBC light flyweight champ Brian Viloria, Z ?The Dream? Gorres, Anthony Villareal, and Glen Segura.
In addition to his training at the famed Wild Card Gym, Gabi goes in the evening to a fitness center in Orange County to work on cardio and body toning which includes 30 minutes on a rowboat machine, 100 push-ups, and 560 sit-ups on a daily basis for the last two months.
?I have waited five years for this opportunity and I am ready to fight. I am very eager and excited. I am confident and in great shape. I feel I have the style to win the title. I respect Darchinyan and know he is a strong, powerful puncher. He hits like a featherweight. I have a lot of knockouts on my record, but I don't have the one-punch power that he has. Nobody does. But I feel I have good boxing ability and that is what I plan to (showcase) against Darchinyan. To stand and exchange would be a mistake. That?s what he wants. I am not a runner, but I am faster than he is. I plan to use my speed and give him angles. I want to be elusive and make him work to catch up to me,? Gabi stressed.
"This fights means so much, not just to me but for my family and everybody from my hometown of Davao City in the Philippines. They have never had a world champion. It makes me proud to know that I have the whole city behind me for this fight. There are people there praying for me to win. They are so supportive of me. It makes me work harder. I train six days a week.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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