WITH barely a month after winning his first international title, Dayer Gabutan eyes another international boxing crown if talks pushes through.
This as Gabutan’s camp is mulling on taking the IBF or the WBA championship belt next month either in Mexico or in Africa.
“Wala pang malinaw pero baka sa October, eh lumaban ako sa ibang bansa,” according to the Ambagiw, Besao, Mt. Province native in a text message.
The 22-year-old boxer who turned pro two years ago captured his first professional boxing title when he defeated Jilo Merlin via a unanimous decision (116-113 twice and 115-113) in their 12-round minor title fight recently in Angeles City, Pampanga.
After two years of strutting his wares in the local professional boxing, Gabutan finally earned a shot at the title after he got help from Thai promoter Nari Singwangcha aside from the backing of Brico Santig - his local promoter.
Gabutan’s victory against Julius Agcopra last May proved to be his stepping stone to inch closer to the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight division.
“Nung naghahanap sila ng ilalaban sa championship ng WBO, sinabi ng manager ko na si Brico na subukan daw naming lumaban tapos yun na,” Gabutan said.
“Sa ngayon balik muna ako sa training. Long run tsaka sparring para sa stamina,” added Gabutan.
Discipline and hard work were his weapons when he stepped into the ring recently and the long road run during his workout paid off as the 21-year-old automotive mechanic graduate shots up to number five in the country’s bantamweight division ranking. He used to be in the top 20.
Spanning a career in boxing of four years, his first debut was two years ago where he floored his opponent Ryan Capan in the second round, then knocking out fellow Cordilleran boxer and debuting Nathan Bolcio in the second round back in 2008.
Both fights were scheduled for four rounds.
The newly crowned WBO oriental bantamweight champion has now a record of 11 wins, one loss and 2 draws with five knock-outs.
Gabutan, in fact, never dreamed of becoming a boxer not until he first saw action in the 2006 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association.
He was then representing Mountain Province, but lost in the finals against Benguet’s John Bolino but did not hamper him to pursue his career as a boxer.
Since then it was a roller coaster ride for the 21 year old Besao native.