Filipina seeks World Boxing Title

Gretchen Abaniel

Gretchen Abaniel, a two-fisted punching machine, will battle South Korea's Cho Rong Son for the World Boxing Association female world minimumweight title in Seoul on March 16.

Abaniel, a former outstanding amateur, is ranked no. 4 by the WBC and no. 8 by the WBA in the women's category.

She is undefeated in 6 fights with 2 knockouts, while the Korean champion, who is making the third defense of her title, is also undefeated with 9 wins, 3 by way of knockouts.

Abaniel holds the Wiba minimumweight intercontinental title as well as the WBC atom weight international title and is managed and trained by former Australian boxer Terrance Mogg, who has effectively developed a compact stable of female boxers, as well as a few promising male fighters, including Warlito Parenas.

Mogg said Abaniel, who put on a sensational performance in scoring a unanimous 10-round decision over rugged Thai girl Lilly Rachaprachagym during a fight card for delegates to the WBC Convention last Nov. 16 at the San Andres Sports Center in Malate, was in "fantastic condition," although he expects it to be "a tough fight."

Mogg said he observed Cho Rong Son train in Manila recently and said she "moves well and has a strong jab and straight right." But he said Abaniel's "tenacious style and super fitness" were ideal for this type of fight. Mogg said the fight plan would be to "take the fight to the Korean in every round, leaving no time for her to rest and no doubt in the minds of the judges."

"Abaniel is well prepared and we are going there [Seoul] to win," said Mogg.