Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Mexican foe for Gabi
DIOSDADO Gabi of Davao City will have a Mexican opponent when he makes his much-anticipated return to the ring on August 10 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jose German Cruz of Ocotlan, JA, Mexico has been lined up to face Gabi in the card featuring World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Brian Viloria.
There were no clear details about Cruz except that he has a record of 2-2 with 1 KO. He is trained by Fernando Dominguez.
The KO win of Cruz came at the expense of Koson Sor Vorapin in October last year when Mexico posted a 5-1 win over Thailand during the World Cup of boxing.
Cruz stopped Vorapin at 2:44 mark of the fourth round for his only victory thus far in a very young career.
Gabi, who is now called "Lion Heart," will be fighting for the first time since losing to International Boxing Federation flyweight titlist Vic Darchinyan via an eight-round stoppage in March.
Gabi, a farmer's son from Barangay Lasang in Davao, hopes to rebound from that defeat and is aching to get back into the ring again.
According to Gabi's manager Mike Koncz, his boxer will now be fighting at 115 pounds or in the super flyweight category.
Gabi will now move up and campaign at the super flyweight division, as he will be more comfortable with the added three pounds. Also, we believe fighting at 115 his knock-out ratio will increase," Koncz said in an e-mail recently.
"With his tremendous work ethic and determination we are very optimistic and confident that by the end of the year Gabi will again have the opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming a world champion," Koncz added.
Gabi has a ring record of 26-3-1 with 18 KOs. Viloria, a Fil-Am, will defend his WBC light fly crown against Omar Nino, a 23-year-old boxer from Guadalajara, Mexico. (CRAM)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 18, 2006 issue)
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