Gabi takes crack at Thai champ’s belt

Diosdado Gabi gears up for what could be the biggest battle of his boxing career when he tries to unseat reigning WBC (World Boxing Council) 112-lb Thai champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam on Oct. 8 in Phuket, Thailand.

The men behind Gabi’s rise as challenger, however, believe their ward is not somebody who will pass out at the mere sight of a fearsome foe like Wonjongkam, the baby-faced puncher who captured the WBC title by putting away the highly-skilled Cebu lefty Malcolm Tunacao in less than a round in Pichit province.

It was also Wonjongkam who recorded the quickest knockout win in the history of the flyweight division when he disposed of kamikaze Japanese challenger Daisuke Naito in just 34 seconds to retain his WBC crown in 2002.

"Gabi does not punch as hard as Manny Pacquiao," said North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol, who is one of Gabi’s handlers.

The fight also serves as the highlight of the WBC Convention set Oct. 3-9 at the Arcadia Phuket Hotel.

After attending his ward’s workout yesterday at the L&M Gym in Sampaloc, Piñol said Gabi makes up for his lack of punching power on his native skills.

As of yesterday, Gabi has logged over 40 rounds of sparring mostly against Philippine bantamweight king Joel Bauya of the Emil Romano Stable.

"Nagbugbugan sila kahapon ni Bauya and against another sparmate," said Piñol.

Piñol is expected to accompany Gabi to his third trip to Thailand after two failed stints there a few years ago.

Wth a 21-2-1 win-loss-draw slate with 15 knockouts, Gabi has been training for the Wonjongkam fight since May as he anticipates a tough grind.