AFTER finally breaking his two fight losing skid last year, Dayer Gabutan is up for another tough test when he takes on up and coming Chinese bantamweight fighter Zong Li He.
Gabutan was supposed to see action this coming April 6 for the third staging of the Highland Brawl 3: Fight to end Cancer, a fund raising activity for the medication of Joseph Dep-ay who is suffering from stage 4 liver cancer.
Headlining the event is undefeated Ifugao pride KJ Natuplag taking on Ronnie Campos for the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) featherweight title.
But with a better opportunity in China, Gabutan will instead fly to Xian China on May 10 to contend for the WBC Asia International title.
Gabutan recorded his 20th victory against Roilo Golez in September last year with a second round knockout.
The 29-year-old Besao, Mt. Province then took time off after his victory last year to concentrate on his studies.
Although Gabutan has became a fulltime student, the former six time WBO Oriental bantamweight champion said he remains active at the Highland Boxing Gym by sparring with his teammates.
Prior to his huge win in September last year, Gabutan lost five out of his six fights from 2013 to 2016.
ZongLi meanwhile has three victories under his belt with one knock out and last fought in January this year edging Zhenggou Luo via unanimous decision. Meanwhile, weigh-in for the upcoming Highland Brawl 3 is set on Thursday.
Darwin Miller Dep-ay of DMAD Boxing Promotions, which co-promotes the event with Highland Boxing Promotions said Natuplag and Campos were earlier scheduled to fight for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Youth Championship but was able to secure a better regional belt which is the ABF featherweight title.
In the undercard, Buguias lady fighter Jessebelle Pagaduan, who now trains in La Trinidad, is set for another ring return. The 32-year-old lady boxer owns a record of nine wins, one loss, and a draw once held the country's female minimum weight crown while her opponent has yet to be named.
Also seeing action is Antonio Sismundo who is from La Trinidad taking on Jayson Nicart of Metro Manila in a six rounder super featherweight match while Jonathan Almacen of Metro Manila takes on Benjie Bartolome from La Trinidad also in a six rounder minimumweight clash.
Ador Torres of La Trinidad meanwhile squares off with Jameson Lingbanan who is from Bauko, Mt. Province in a four rounds welterweight match as MJ Uduna of Ifugao takes on Ronald Rey Abano who is from Metro Manila in four round – featherweight encounter.
Flyweights Alvin Dologuin of Metro Manila tackles Mark Autida of La Trinidad in four rounds while an amateur bout featuring Andrea Cola of Italy and Seongjin Chun of South Korea will serve as the curtain raiser for the event backed by Alfalfa Construction of Engineer Freddie Ngipol and the Singwancha Foundation.