Once more, with feeling - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Andy Tabanas hopes to follow in former stablemate Joma Gamboa’s footsteps. It took Gamboa three tries to capture a world title before finally claiming the World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight crown last year.

Tabanas, 31, has failed in three attempts to clinch a world diadem. In 1991, he lost a 12-round decision to Phalan Lukmingkwan of Thailand for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) miniflyweight crown. In 1995, Tabanas was knocked out by Ricardo Lopez in a World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight championship bout. And last February, he battled Phalan to a split draw in a fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight plum.

On Sunday morning (local time), Tabanas takes another crack at the vacant WBO 108-pound throne in New York. The venue is the Theater, a small arena within the Madison Square Garden complex, and his opponent is No. 6 contender Nelson Dieppa of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

There’s no tomorrow for Tabanas, the pint-sized WBO No. 1 contender who’s not getting any younger. His manager Leon Panoncillo, an Hawaiian who traces his roots to Cebu, is promoter Don King’s Asia and Pacific field agent.

If Tabanas blows it again, it’ll be difficult to arrange another title shot — despite Panoncillo’s connections. So the duel with Dieppa is make or break for the hard-hitting Filipino who’s ranked No. 7 by the WBC and No. 9 by the IBF.

Tabanas turned pro in 1989 and reeled off 17 straight wins before dropping his first pro setback to Phalan. His record is 40-4-2, with 24 KOs. Tabanas is now based in Honolulu although his wife Chloe, a supervisor in Aldeguer’s garments company, and their three children — Archteven, 8, Audreylee, 6, and John Paul, 5 — live in Cebu.

Tabanas said the sacrifice of living away from his family is for the future of his three children. "Kailangan pa akong mag-boksing at marami pa kaming binabayaran buwan-buwan, tulad ng educational plan para sa aming tatlong anak," he explained.

The closest Tabanas got to becoming a world champion was when he drew with Phalan a few months ago. He was on the way to victory until he was wobbled by Phalan in the 12th round. Judge John Stewart scored it 115-113 for Phalan. Patricia Jarman-Manning had it 116-112 for Tabanas. And Bill Graham saw it a draw, 114-all. If Tabanas took the last round, he would’ve won a majority decision.

Curiously, Tabanas was paid less than Phalan for the fight although he was ranked higher than the Thai. Tabanas pocketed $25,000 and the Thai, $30,000.

For Dieppa, it’s also his second attempt to win the WBO junior flyweight title. Last July, he lost a unanimous decision to Will Grigsby for the crown. Grigsby was later stripped of the title for drug use and the throne has since been vacant.

Dieppa, formerly the WBO No. 1 contender before Tabanas came along, bounced back from the loss to Grigsby to outpoint Julio Coronel. His record is 19-2-1, with 10 KOs. As usual, WBA and IBF junior middleweight champion Felix (Tito) Trinidad’s father, Felix Sr., will work Dieppa’s corner against Tabanas.

Will it be strike four for Tabanas or will he do a Gamboa?