Move over, gentlemen. The ladies are raring to kick up a storm in the ring.
With about a dozen female professional fighters now licensed by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. said the other day it’s time to give the distaff side a break.
That’s why Elorde’s wife Arlene is staging a 64-round card, topped by a Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Intercontinental minimumweight title bout between Puerto Princesa’s Gretchen Abaniel and China’s Il Lim Jun, at the Flash Grand Ballroom in Sucat on Sept. 15.
Jun, 19, is trained by Korean drillmaster Ki Dong Kang and managed by Liu Gang of Zovi Boxing. The native of Hebei, China, is coming off a 10-round loss by majority decision to Ji Hyun Park for the International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) minimumweight crown in South Korea and has a 4-4 record.
Elorde described Jun as “very athletic and a non-stop fighter.”
Abaniel, 21, boasts a 4-0 record, with two KOs. She’s fresh from back-to-back wins by stoppage over Baina Londo and Jessica Oyang. The former national pool mainstay turned pro last December, scoring a majority verdict over Li Hai Li in Kunming, China.
Elorde said the bout will feature the first-ever foreign female fighter to see action in the country. Jun and Abaniel are guaranteed a purse of $500 each by matchmaker Terry Mogg, an Australian who has lived in Pasig since 1993. Mogg manages pro contender Warlito Farrenas and five female fighters.
“There’s room for females in pro boxing,” said Elorde. “Laila Ali proved it when she became a marquee attraction. Fans all over the world recognize the Filipino fighter’s warrior mentality. It’s the reason why Filipino fighters are now very marketable in the US. We want to give our female fighters a chance to share in the glory. It’s time for women power.”
In the undercard, Elorde is pitting OPBF lightflyweight champion Juanito Rubillar against Thailand’s Kriangkrai Kawnongsamet and WBO Asia-Pacific flyweight titlist Drian Francisco against Nino Suelo. The four-round curtain raiser will feature two female fighters.
Rubillar, 30, is ripe for another world title shot and Elorde said GAB chairman Eric Buhain is negotiating for WBC lightflyweight champion Edgar Sosa of Mexico to stake his crown against the Mati, Davao Oriental, veteran during the WBC Convention here in November.
Rubillar’s claim to fame was going the distance twice with Mexican brawler Jorge Arce in Tijuana. He has also fought former world champions Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Medgeon 3-K Battery. In 1999, Rubillar lost to Zolani Petelo on points in an IBF minimumweight title bout in England.
Rubillar turned pro in 1994 and holds wins over five Japanese, three Thai and two Indonesian (including former world champion Nico Thomas) opponents. His record is 42-10-7, with 19 KOs. Last October, he stopped Ifran Ogah for the vacant OPBF crown. Rubillar stopped Ken Nakajima in a OPBF title defense in Osaka last June.
“Rubillar’s ready to fight for the title again,” said Elorde. “If Sosa won’t give him a chance, he’ll defend his OPBF belt against the No. 1 contender from Korea here in December. He’s now ranked No. 3 by the WBC and he’ll be the mandatory challenger soon, giving Sosa no choice but to face him.”
Francisco, a southpaw who’s known as “Little Espinosa” because his style resembles the former two-time world champion’s, has a 13-0 record, with 10 KOs and is considered a hot prospect for a world championship. He recently stopped Thai import Wanmeechok Singwangcha in the first round. Suelo is the Luzon Professional Boxing Association flyweight titleholder and has won his last three outings.
