Make or break fight for Gabunilas in Japan today

CEBU, Philippines — John Paul “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas of ARQ Stable puts his boxing career on the line when he challenges Thai knockout artist Thanongsak Simsri for the OPBF light flyweight belt today (Sunday, August 4) at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.

Smarting from back-to-back setbacks, it’s a crucial match that Gabunilas cannot afford to lose.

Aside from fighting for personal redemption, the 23-year-old Gabunilas is also presented with a daunting task of ending the three-fight jinx of ARQ boxers in Japan.

Gabunilas himself was part of that string of bitter losses when he was stopped in the fifth round by Kanamu Sakama in his international debut on December 26 last year at the Ariake Arena.

It was a controversial decision though perceived by many as a premature stoppage by the referee.

After Gabunilas, two of his stablemates also faltered in their first tour of duty abroad.

Rodex Piala bowed to Kenji Fujita by unanimous decision in their WBO Asia Pacific featherweight title clash last June 1 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Three weeks later, Yerroge “The Scientific” Gura suffered his first defeat by unanimous verdict at the hands of Ayumu Sano in their WBC Youth super flyweight championship duel in Shizuoka.

Now, Gabunilas (10-3, 7KOs) bears a gargantuan mission of breaking ARQ’s jinx in the Land of the Rising Sun as he slugs it out with Simsri, a power-hitting champion who knocked out 31 of his 34 victims with only one defeat.

Difficult as it may seem, Gabunilas is hard-pressed to win knowing that the outcome of the bout will determine what the future holds for him. — (FREEMAN)