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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Gabi scores TKO victory
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
DIOSDADO "Prince" Gabi took another huge step in his quest for boxing glory, scoring a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) win over Philippine jr. bantamweight champion Eric Barcelona in a bloody fight Sunday night at the Almendras gym.
The 26-year-old Gabi, a native of Lasang, Davao City but is now fighting out of North Cotabato, dropped Barcelona twice but suffered a big cut just above his right eye due to an accidental headbutt in the 5th round.
The nasty gash forced the ringside physician to halt the bout and the contest went to the judges' scorecards, which show Gabi the clear winner.
It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise exciting match as both Gabi and Barcelona energized the crowd that included Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte with heavy exchanges from the opening bell.
Gabi proved superior between the two fighters as he dished out a repertoire of shots. He dropped Barcelona with a vicious body attack towards the end of the fourth round.
In the fifth, Barcelona, his game plan now shattered by that knockdown, tried to turn the bout into a slugfest as he pressed towards Gabi, pushing him to the canvass and hitting him with his head.
Gabi rose on his feet with a big cut above his right eye.
Barcelona himself was cut in the face from Gabi's heavy blows in the fourth round.
Barcelona rocked Gabi with a right early in the match and pressed the attack, sometimes pinning Gabi against the ropes.
Gabi, however, was able to escape in each of the Barcelona strike and launched an assault of his own that thrilled the hometown fans.
The win improved Gabi's record to 28 wins, 2 defeats with 20 KOs.
Gabi is scheduled to fight International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan on June 1 in Palawan, but the cut he suffered will force delay the highly anticipated bout.
According to North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol, the injury will take three months to heal.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 12, 2005 issue)
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