PH boxer Josie Gabuco captures 4th SEA Games gold

MANILA, Philippines – For the fourth Southeast Asian Games installment in a row, Josie Gabuco remains unbeatable.

The 28-year-old Punching Princess from from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines dominated Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand to win a unanimous decision in the women’s light flyweight final on Wednesday afternoon, June 10.

Gabuco, a single mother to an 8-year-old son, has been one of the most dominant female boxers of the lower weight classes, having won the AIBA Women’s World Championships in 2012.

“I’m very happy and I’m very grateful for this. Thanks to God for giving me another opportunity to get another gold medal at the SEA Games,” said Gabuco, who is hoping to earn a spot at next year’s Olympics.

“It was hard for me. My opponent is a good boxer who has done well in a lot of competitions. But maybe my experience was important because I have almost 12 years of boxing and I can see the weaknesses and strengths of my opponents.

“It’s nice to win this though especially after last year which was not good for me as I lost all of my competitions -– the world championships, the Asian Games and the China Open.”

Her two other female teammates in gold medal matches weren’t as fortune.

Flyweight Irish Magno and bantamweight Nesthy Petechio lost split decisions to Thi Yen Nguyen and Thi Bang Le of Vietnam, respectively in their gold medal matches.

– with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com