Gretchen Abaniel, Filipina boxing wonder woman, fights on

Ryan Songalia

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Gretchen Abaniel, Filipina boxing wonder woman, fights on
Gretchen Abaniel returns to the ring in Parañaque City in a tuneup fight, with a potential showdown against IBF minimumweight champion Zong Ju Cai in sight

MANILA, Philippines – Life as a boxer is hard. Life for female boxers can be even harder.

While the danger is omnipresent for both genders, women fighters receive none of the attention of their male counterparts, with television coverage almost non-existent, purses considerably smaller, and few headlines written about their victories.

It’s a reality that Gretchen Abaniel, once the Philippines’ female standard-bearer on the national amateur team, and arguably the country’s greatest homegrown pro, has had to fight with since she first put on a pair of gloves.

“I can say I have given a lot of honor for the country. I’ve held world titles but support and attention are still severely lacking. The market is very weak,” said Abaniel (17-8, 6 knockouts), the 31-year-old minimumweight fighter from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan who turned pro in 2006 due to lack of government support for women’s boxing.

But she continues on, because this is the life she chose.

“It’s saddening but I just love boxing and it makes me happy so I haven’t stopped to this day. I will always [chase] my dreams.”

Abaniel will take her next step forward as a fighter this Saturday, September 30, when she faces Thailand’s Chamaporn Chairin (5-1, 1 KO) at The Flash Grand Ballroom of the Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque City. The card is promoted by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr and will feature another female fight as Gretel de Paz faces Christine Latube for the vacant Games and Amusements Board bantamweight title, in addition to a number of men’s bouts.

Chairin, 26, has lost just once in her career, a third round stoppage in 2015 to Louisa Hawton, who is now the WBO female light flyweight champion. Abaniel, who has not fought since July 2016, said her only impression of Chairin is from her photo on the poster (“She looks like a kickboxer”). Hawton told Rappler she expects an early night for Abaniel.

“My thought would be to expect an early stoppage,” said Hawton, an unbeaten Australian who is herself part-Filipina. “Gretchen has a ton of experience over Chamaporn and should be able to dominate her early.”

Should Abaniel get past this fight unscathed, a showdown with IBF minimumweight champion Zong Ju Cai would most likely be next. It’d be an opportunity to avenge her 2015 points loss to the Chinese fighter, and to finally win a world title from one of the “Big 4” sanctioning bodies. But it could also show how much she’s improved since relocating to Sydney, Australia two years ago, where she can get the sort of training befitting a world-class athlete.

“She has a nutritionist, strength and conditioning coach, myself with her, and she’s training twice a day,” said Tony del Vecchio, who trains Abaniel out of the Bondi Gym. He feels her improved strength and confident mindset will avoid “shady” decisions, which he feels she’s been the victim of in the past.

Del Vecchio said he sponsored visas for Abaniel and her husband to relocate to Australia to give her the best chance to be a world-class fighter. There she spars with male boxers in the lighter divisions and female fighters on the national amateur team, who relish the opportunity to get experience against the bronze medalist from the 2005 World Amateur Championships.

Since settling in Australia, Abaniel has had arguably her best stretch, winning two straight, including a split decision over previously unbeaten Oezlem Sahin in Ludwigsburg, Germany to win a pair of title belts. And the 

“She’s a student of the sport. Not to detract from the females but she really does love the sport for what it is. And she’s good at it. She has a natural talent and an amazing work ethic. Put it together in someone like Gretchen and that’s what gets you going,” said Del Vecchio.

“She’s just a machine.”

The rematch with Cai (9-1, 1 KO) had been set for July in Macau before being postponed. The tentative date for a rematch is October 28, a date Abaniel thinks is too soon and hopes to push back to November. The first time they fought, Del Vecchio wasn’t in her corner as he had another assignment in the US, and she had issues dealing with Cai’s southpaw style. Armed with experience from their first clash, he thinks it’ll be different this time around.

“I’d go so far as saying she has an opportunity of stopping this girl. She doesn’t like taking punches and she doesn’t look that strong around the middle,” said Del Vecchio.

After this fight Abaniel will return to Australia and apply for permanent residence in her new home country. And she’ll plot her payback against Cai.

“I will make sure I will be ready for 10 rounds for her unlike before when I didn’t have any idea about her,” said Abaniel. “She is not a dangerous opponent, but very smart boxer in the ring.” – Rappler.com

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