Zamboanga City?s Marvin ?Good Boy? Mabait fights a different war tonight in Mexico City
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Oct 2013
Marvin Mabait weighed in at 53.500 kilograms (117.7 pounds) at yesterday?s weigh-in ceremonies, one day before his North American debut in Mexico City.
His opponent, Mexican Johnny Garcia (18-4-1, 9 KOs) also made weight, weighing exactly like him according to Mabait?s trainer, Nonito Donaire Sr.
Mabait who hailed from Talon-Talon in Zamboanga City, the center of bloody and deadly clashes between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) guerillas and government soldiers is dedicating this fight to his family back home that are affected by the ongoing war.
?Kailangan ko po manalo dito sa lugar ng kalaban ko para narin matulungan ko na ang pamilya ko dun sa Zamboanga na naipit sa giyera at ngayun ay dahil naman sa baha,? Mabait told Philboxing.com the night before his fight.
(I need to win here at my opponent?s hometown so that I will be able to help my family back in Zamboanga who are caught in the middle of the war there and who are also now affected by floods.)
Mabait, who relocated to San Francisco, California from the Philippines last August to train, has been monitoring the situation in his hometown via news from the Internet and communications with his family through Facebook. Besides, posting photos of his daily experiences in his new home, the young fighter also shares news and updates of the Zamboanga City situation in his timeline after a hard day of training.
Tonight, in a different kind of war, the boxer and his trainer expressed readiness for the important bout, his first in the West and his first outside of the Philippines, despite Mabait?s concerns about his family whom he said has not been cleared to return to their house yet.
?Ready na po talaga ako para bukas. Ang iniisip ko lang ay manalo bukas at makapagbigay ng magandang laban,? Mabait told Philboxing.com.
(I am really ready for tomorrow. All I think of is to win tomorrow and that I will be able to give a good fight.)
Donaire Sr. shared the sentiment of his ward and even verbalized that a knockout victory is possibly in the offing for his boxer in Mexico City.
?He is 110% ready. He is very confident. He said he'll knock Garcia out,? stated Donaire Sr.
Mabait hooked up with Donaire Sr. at the Kennel Gym in San Leandro where he has trained since his arrival in the States. The young boxer also spent time with former super bantam champ, Nonito Donaire Jr. in Las Vegas, training and sparring with the popular fighter under the guidance of the older Donaire.
His fight with Garcia will be carried live by Mexican TV network Telemundo in Mexico and across the United States tonight. This will also be the first main event bout for the young fighter.
?Mahalaga po itong laban ko sa boxing career ko sir. Kasi binigyan agad ako ng title fight sa States at live may TV pa. Kaya gagawin ko talaga ang lahat para manalo dito,? added Mabait.
(This fight is important to my boxing career sir. Because, they gave me a title fight right away here in the States and it will also be on live on TV. That is why I will do everything to win here.)
A regional belt is at stake for their fight tonight, the vacant WBO Intercontinental title will be contested by both Mabait and Garcia. The winner will advance his ranking and his chances to fight for the WBO bantamweight world title which is currently held by Tomoki Kameda of Japan.
Mabait narrated that his mother told him over the phone when he called them yesterday to not think of her and his family in war-torn Zamboanga City and instead focus on his fight and the task ahead.
Marvin ?Good Boy? Mabait acknowledged his mother?s wishes and promised her that he will give everything to win tonight.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Marvin Mabait (L) of the Philippines and his opponent Johnny Garcia (R) of Mexico pose with promoter Tutico Zabala during Mabait and Garcia's weighin for their fight Friday in Mexico.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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