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Monday, February 14, 2005
Gabi stops foe in 37 seconds
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
THIRTY-SEVEN seconds.
That was all Diosdado "Prince" Gabi needed to dismantle Jimmy Pinontoan of Indonesia during their flyweight clash Saturday night at the Lantawan Hall of the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
The 25-year-old Gabi, highly regarded as a future world champion, fired a vicious left shot to the body to send Pinontoan sprawling to the canvass 37 seconds into the bout.
The Indon boxer was clearly in pain as soon as he hit the deck, and was holding his midsection when the referee counted him out.
It was a quick ending to the highly anticipated return bout of the two boxers, stunning the crowd that included Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Gabi and Pinontoan fought to a draw in Jakarta in 2002. When Pinontoan planed in to Davao City Thursday, his manager immediately announced they did not come here to lose.
Gabi, during the press conference Friday, vowed to settle an old score and knock out Pinontoan within five rounds.
Both Pinontoan and Gabi were wrong.
Gabi charged out of his corner like a raging bull at the sound of the bell, firing body shot after body shot.
Pinontoan tried to counter a body shot of his own, but that left him wide open, and Gabi went for the kill with that vicious left.
With the victory, Gabi's record improved to 24-2-1 with 18 knockout wins.
Gabi originally hails from Lasang, Davao City but is now fighting out of North Cotabato.
North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol, who is Gabi's chief backer, promoted the dinner-boxing bout in cooperation with Duterte and Emil Escandor, the hotel owner.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here.
(February 14, 2005 issue)
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