| |
|
Gabi Faces Rivas in Larios Undercard
By Winchell Campos PhilBoxing.com Sat, 07 Oct 2006
TUCSON, Arizona--Diosdado "Prince" Gabi Jr. gets to show his wares on national US television when he takes on young local boy Felipe Rivas in the undercard of Oscar Larios' comeback fight Friday night (Saturday in Manila) at the Desert Diamond Casino in this border city here.
After hurdling Thursday's weigh-in and with the help of Manny Pacquiao's Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez who lent his expertise in pre-fight conditioning, Gabi ended anxious moments in making weight and promised to put on an impressive show knowing that a huge audience will be watching.
Gabi faces Rivas, a 22-year-old fighter from nearby Phoenix, Arizona, who is an inch taller. The 5'2" Gabi, 29-3-1 (19 KOs), has a huge advantage in experience and a three-inch advantage in reach.
"Sana maganda ang ipapakita ko sa laban na ito. Inspired ako at sana ipagdasal ako ng mga kababayan ko dahil para sa kanila ang laban na ito," said Gabi, who turned 27 three weeks ago. "Mexicano ang kalaban ko kaya ini-expect ko na maganda ang laban na ito," said Gabi.
In his first fight under Golden Boy Promotions, Gabi came in at 115 1/2 pounds, just a shade over the contracted weight of 115 pounds. Since his fight is not a championship match, a one-pound allowance is allowed.
Superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, a partner of Golden Boy Promotions, led the ceremonies, even as Larios, the main attraction here, hurdled the 126-pound limit. He faces journeyman Roberto Bonilla.
Trainer and manager Freddie Roach is set to plane in before the fight which will be shown over the Telefutura channel and he expects Gabi to be on top of his game, having trained well at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
"Excited na ako para lumaban at handa na ako. Gusto ko na ring umuwi dahil sabik na sabik na ako sa aking pamilya," said Gabi, who has been promised a bigger fight soon as well as a possible title shot in the near future.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE , Thu, 21 May 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: From Madrid to Johannesburg – The Legacy of the WBC in South Africa By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 21 May 2026TYSON VS. MAYWEATHER EXHIBITION IS ON— TYSON BROKEN HAND PUSHES EVENT FROM SPRING TO FALL OF 2026 , Thu, 21 May 2026Three Lions Promotions Building pro boxing back to Glory days in Metro Vancouver , Thu, 21 May 2026Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round , Thu, 21 May 2026TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division , Thu, 21 May 2026Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures Eight More Victories on Day Three of 2026 Copa America , Thu, 21 May 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18 , Wed, 20 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 20260 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP , Wed, 20 May 2026CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL , Wed, 20 May 2026BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH , Wed, 20 May 2026IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia , Wed, 20 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America , Wed, 20 May 2026QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026It’s in the blood By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026“The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City , Tue, 19 May 2026Rematch option for Melvin By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose , Tue, 19 May 2026Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record , Tue, 19 May 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|