The 24-year-old Gabi will attempt to snatch the WBC International flyweight crown from champion Randy Mangubat, vowing to do it in an impressive fashion before a hometown crowd.
The Gabi-Mangubat showdown topbills the San Miguel Corp.-sponsored "Engkwentro" card this Sunday at the 10,000-capacity North Cotabato Provincial Gymnasium.
"Gabi weighed just two pounds over the limit yesterday. And he was even eating full meals," said a member of Team Gabi in an interview yesterday.
The source also revealed that Gabi goes into the showdown after terrorizing sparmates at the Fort Stone Gym here. Alfren Bulala, a featherweight brought in from Bukidnon, suffered two knockdowns during sparring and came out nursing a broken ribcage.
"Ang tindi ng mga suntok. Di mo makita. Parang di kapani-paniwala, (His punches are excellent. You don’t see it coming. Unbelievable)," said another sparmate Pedro Malco, who was also brought in from Cebu after local fighters refused to spar with Gabi.
Meanwhile, Team Mangubat is expected to arrive here tomorrow just in time for next day’s weigh-in. Mangubat will be accompanied by manager Yuki Murayama and trainer Lando Espinosa, brother of ex-world champ Luisito Espinosa.
Also seeing action in the undercard are Philippine junior lightweight champ Bobby Pacquiao and former Sydney Olympian Danilo Lerio.