"DIE HARD" GABUTAN READY FOR TAKAHIRO SHIGEE SUNDAY NIGHT IN TOKYO, JAPAN
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 24 Aug 2013
In a battle of skilled southpaws, Filipino Diarh "Die Hard" Gabutan (R), and hard-hitting Japanese Takahiro Shigee scaled-in identical weight of 119.50 lbs. (54.2 kgs) in prelude of their non-title super bantamweight clash tomorrow (Aug 25) at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan.
The 8-rounder marks the return of the 25 year-old Gabutan after his controversial lost to world-ranked veteran Vusi Malinga (21-4-1, 12 KOs) last March in South Africa. So this rumble against rising-star Takahiro Shigee could be a way to get into the winners track and back into the world rankings. But the mission is not easy at all.
Since the Japanese is a power fighter who packs a lot of TNT in both fists, Gabutan will have to make good use of his wider fighting experience and well as his advantage in height and reach, combined with fast moves and slick boxing from a distance.
In contrast, the shorter 22-year-old Shigee will try to press the action forward into a toe-to-toe war, a fighting style suitable to his nearly 80% knockout ratio, an worrisome number that the Nippon wants to increase even higher.
Yes, there is danger in the hands of Takahiro Shigee.
Therefore, the Ilocos Sur native will have to constantly and accurately throw his right jab to keep Shigee at bay while striking him hard with power left straights combined with quick shocking left overheads to diminish the war capabilities of Shigee.
In addition, Gabutan should keep on circling to the RIGHT of the Japanese bomber to avoid his explosive left hand, never giving Shigee a clear shot.
Importantly, from the very beginning Gabutan should quickly try to confuse the Japanese by making good use of his southpaw stance as the Japanese has never ever fought a lefty of the quality of "Die Hard" Gabutan.
In contrast, Gabutan has fought really good against top southpaws.
In fact, Gabutan's last combat, was a full-throttle 12-rounder against a Vusi Malinga, a world-class southpaw ranked among the top-15 in the IBF and WBO.
The Filipino warrior has battled well against tough southpaw warriors in far away lands leading to think that he has enough skills and talent to dominate the hard-charging Shigee.
Gabutan has been Oriental Bantamweight Champion since 2010 till early 2013, a title he defended successfully 6 times, never losing it in the ring.
Gabutan's only defeat was a controversial lost against a tough double-ranked lion in South Africa. So, shall the dashing "Die Hard" Gabutan wins tomorrow in Tokyo, it would be fair for world boxing organizations to consider including him among their top-15 bantamweights.
Will Gabutan be able to outbox and outsmart Takahiro Shigee tomorrow in Tokyo.... or will the undaunted Japanese add the brave Filipino to his list of scalps?
Takahiro Shigee of Kobe is promoted by Misako Promotions of Tokyo, Japan, while the "Die Hard" Gabutan (18-2-3, 9 KOs) belongs to the very active Highland Boxing Stable of the eternal spring City of La Trinidad in Benguet, Philippines.
In the card's main event, 26 year-old slugger Keita Obara (8-1, 7 KOs) of Tokyo makes the first defense of his Japanese Super Lightweight (140 lbs) against more experienced So Takenaka (18-6-2, 8 KOs) of Osaka.
The tomorrow's card Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum is a production of Misako Promotions.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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