Saturday, August 25, 2007 Gabi still eyes world title By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
DIOSDADO "Prince" Gabi is facing a legal battle right now, but the stylish boxer from Davao City hopes to overcome all his troubles and get back into the ring soon possibly for a another shot at the world title.
The 28-year-old Gabi, speaking over GMA Super Radyo Wednesday morning, said plans are being pushed for him to face World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel or meet tough Jorge Arce in November this year.
The fight with either Montiel or Arce is reportedly taking place as one of the undercards in the Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley encounter in New York.
Gabi is being promoted by Oscar dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and is managed by Freddie Roach, the American trainer of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
The Davao boxer on Tuesday posted a P5,000 bail for his temporary liberty after a warrant of arrest was earlier issued against him. The arrest warrant stemmed from the charges filed at the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities Branch 2 back in 2005.
The case was filed by North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol, who claimed Gabi reneged on their managerial contract.
Gabi was one of the Filipino boxers who won their bouts in the Boxing World Cup over Mexico held recently in Sacramento, California.
When he planed in to Davao last week for a vacation, Gabi was facing an arrest warrant instead of a hero's welcome and all his troubles started.
Now facing a legal battle, Gabi badly needs to get a clearance from the court so he can fly out of the country and go back to the United States to pursue his boxer career.
In fact, the boxer is set to appear for his arraignment on Aug. 30 before Judge Antonina Escovilla of the MTCC Branch 2.
Meanwhile, Davao City Councilor Diosdado A. Mahipus had agreed to become Gabi's lawyer in the case.
Mahipus earlier authored a resolution which was passed by the City Council commending Gabi for the honor he brought to the city and the country.
