GABI MAKES US DEBUT IN STOCKTON

Former WBC International flyweight boss Diosdado

?Prince? Gabi will be featured in the main event at

the Stockton Civic Auditorium on Friday September 23

for his American debut.

The fight card is being presented by James Grunsky

Promotions.

The 26-year-old Gabi (25-2-1, 18 KO's) is presently

ranked number 5 in the world by the WBC although his

manager states that the September 23 fight will be at

116 lbs and not at the flyweight category.

The opponent in the 10 round main event is

hard-hitting Mexican Jose Alfredo Tirado who?s record

stands at 22 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws with 17 wins

coming by way of knockouts.

Gabi arrived in the United States on August 3, 2005

and is living in Orange County. Gabi and his manager

take a 45-minute drive from Orange County to Los

Angeles to train under the watchful eyes of 2002

trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach at the Wild Card

Gym in Hollywood.

"My good friend and match maker for the September 23

card, Jimmy Montoya, who is also in charge of the West

Coast operations for Guilty Boxing Promotions has

provided us with a credible and very tough opponent

nevertheless, we believe Gabi is up for the task.

This will be a good test and an indicator as to where

Gabi stands in the world title hunt," stated Koncz.

Under the tutelage of Freddie Roach Gabi has sparred

approximately 75 rounds. Utilized as the main

sparring partner was Brian Viloria who is now the WBC

Junior Flyweight Champion also, approximately 25

rounds were done with Brazilian Flyweight Jose

Albuquerque. For this past and final week of sparring

in addition to Albuquerque, Gabi did 3 rounds on

Monday, Tuesday and Friday with IBF Super Bantamweight

Champion Israel Vazquez.

"When Gabi was presented for training camp in the

later part of July his weight had ballooned to 140 lbs

and my concern was reducing his weight down to 112 lbs

over this short period of time may effect Gabi?s

stamina and more importantly, his over all health,"

Koncz added.

In this regard, Koncz has retained the services of a

nutritionist who has placed Gabi on the following meal

schedule: breakfast consist of two hard boiled eggs

and a whole yam, after training or lunch steamed green

vegetables and one portion of grilled salmon fish or

chicken and at 7 pm a large portion of tossed green

salad topped with fish flakes. As snacks throughout

the day oranges, apples and bananas are utilized.

In addition, Justin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao's

conditioning coach, puts Gabi through a variety of

well thought-out and vigorous conditioning and

strength drills on a daily basis at the Wild Card Gym.

This combination is enabling Gabi to reduce his

weight and is putting him in top physical form without

any deterrence to his over all health. Gabi?s weight

as of Sept. 17 was 120 lbs.

Gabi states ?I have been training very hard for my US

debut fight as I know my opponent is very good. I

thank Mr. Grunsky for giving me this opportunity to

have my first fight on American Soil in Stockton,

California. On September 23 I will give 110 percent

in the ring in an effort to entertain the people of

Stockton.?

Gabi then went on to state that, ?Coming to America I

have made great sacrifices leaving my friends, family,

beautiful wife Eva Joy and our 10 month old son

Prince. But I know in my heart I will give a better

life for my family when I fulfill my dream of becoming

World Champion. I pray and ask for the continued

support of my family, fans and country men as when I

return to the Philippines I hope to be Champion of the

World?.

END