Abaniel repeats as world champ

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Gretchen Abaniel stopped Thailand’s Modthanoi Sithsaithong in the fourth round to win the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) minimum weight world championship for a second time in front of a jampacked Makati Cinema Square crowd on Sunday.

The Puerto Princesa, Palawan native and now Makati City resident set the tempo of the bout as she stalked her smaller opponent around the ring.

In the fourth round, Abaniel landed a series of jarring rights that stunned the Thai, who after a series of blows, turned her back and was clearly in trouble.

Referee Sammy Bernabe saved Modthanai (5-2, 3KOs) from further punishment and waived off the bout at 1:36.

Thus began the jubilant celebrations in the ring as Abaniel hoisted the WIBA belt for the second time in her career.

Abaniel (12-4, 3 KOs), who was facing a make-or-break path in her career, held this very title back in 2009 and defended it once before losing the belt in Thailand via unanimous decision.

Going into Sunday’s battle, she had lost three out of her last four fights and knew she was staring at the end of her career if she didn’t come through this time.

“I’m so happy right now,” an elated Abaniel said afterward as she was mobbed by well-wishers. “I trained really hard for this fight because I know I can’t afford to lose again. I want to thank my manager Sir Jonathan (Thorp) of Team Insider for believing in me and for giving me this chance, and everyone who helped me and believed in me on my way back to being a champion.”

Abaniel’s victory headlined an entertaining first fight card put on by Team Insider Promotions, led by British businessman and long time Philippine resident Jonathan Thorp, who promised to rejuvenate the local boxing scene in the coming year with entertaining promotions the likes of which haven’t been seen before around Manila.

One of Thorp’s plans is to consistently bring in live opponents to test his fighters rather than patsies to pad their records. Indeed, this is exactly what occurred in the supporting main event when Team Insider’s best prospect Roman “Hitman” Canto lost to Indonesia’s Ruben Manakane.

Canto came into the bout sporting a 7-0 record and had the Indonesian in serious trouble in the second round. But the Filipino couldn’t put his rugged opponent away. In the fourth round, Canto got sloppy and threw a wild right leaving himself glaringly exposed, and got tagged with a vicious left hook to the chin. Canto immediately collapsed onto the canvas nearly unconscious as referee Ver Abainza waived off the bout, giving the stunning victory to Manakane.

In another undercard fight Team Insider’s Ricky Dulay, who barely missed out on a spot in this year’s London Olympics, continued to show fine form as he upped his record to 3-0 with a second-round stoppage of Gilbert Donasales.

Team Insider’s ‘Battle of Makati’ was sponsored by Megasportsworld, Tune Hotels, Team Insider Gym, Team Insider Sports Bar, Red Horse Beer, Etihad Airlines, Howzat Bar, Bay Café Manila, Savoy Bistro Makati, Rogues Bar Makati, Makati Square, Big Apple Dive Resort Puerto Galera, Mulligans Irish Gastro Pub, Twins Boxing Gear, and Monster Energy Drink.