ABANIEL TO DEFEND GLOBAL WORLD TITLE VS. THAI

*Former WIBA World minimumweeight champion Grechen Abaniel*

By LITO DELOS REYES

FILIPINA boxer Gretchen “Chen-Chen” Abaniel will defend her Global Boxing Union Female World minimumweight title against Petcharas Superchamp of Thailand on July 2 at the Club Punchbowl in Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia.

They will also be fighting for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) World minimumweight crown.

The 30-year old native from Puerto Princesa, Palawan won the WIBF world minimumweight title by a split decision against Oezlem Sahin last November 7 at the Ludwigsburg MHP Arena in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

The 5-foot-1 Abaniel currently has a record of 16 wins with 6 knockouts and 8 loses. She is a former WIBA World minimumweight champion and WBC International female minimumweight champion.

Abaniel captured the WBC International female minimumweight title by a UD win over Lilly Kokietgym on November 16, 2007 at the San Andres Civic & Sports Center in Malate, Manila.

She later took the vacant WIBA world minimumweight crown by a UD victory over another Thai Nongbua Lookpraiaree on March 25, 2009 at the Centennial Hall, Manila Hotel in Manila.

She retained the title with a UD win against another Thai challenger Fahpratan Looksaikongdin on March 25, 2010 in Pasay City. Abaniel lost her crown by a UD to Samson Tor Buamas on February 19, 2011 in Thailand.

It was followed by two back-to-back setbacks. Abaniel first bowed to Katia Gutierrez by a TKO in their battle for the IBF World female minimumweight title on December 10, 2011 in Sinaloa, Mexico. Abaniel then dropped a UD to Teeraporn Pannimit for the vacant WBO World female minimumweight title on April 25, 2012 in Thailand.

Abaniel regained her WIBA World minimumweight title by knocking out Nongnun Mor Krungthepthonburi of Thailand in the 9^th round last February 7, 2014 at the Binan City Town Plaza Gym in Laguna.

But Abaniel again suffered three defeats including two championship bouts.

She dropped a split decision to Kumiko Seeser Ikehara in their fight for the vacant WBO World female minimumweight title held September 20, 2014 at the Azalea Taisho in Osaka, Japan.

She later lost to Zong Ju Cia by a UD in their twin title-fights for the vacant WBC International female and WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental female minimumweight titles last February 22, 2015 in Wenshan, China.

Abaniel also lost to Ji Hyun Park by UD last August 1 in Bucheon, South Korea before making a smashing comeback in Germany last November.

Superchamp, however, is still undefeated with six straight wins including one knockout.

She previously scored a unanimous decision win against Petchrung Sor Kulawong last April 1 in Maha Sarakham, Thailand. In her debut, Superchampion stopped Jompon Yingchongym in the 4^th round held January 14, 2015 in Bangkok.