VISITING Filipina Gretchen ‘Chen-Chen’ Abaniel knocked out Thailand’s Waranya Yooksaikongdin in the first round of a scheduled six-round non-title match at the Sawtell RSL Club NSW on Saturday, August 17, 2013.
Abaniel, the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) minimum-weight (102lb) champion, did better in this non-title match than her bout against Yooksaikongdin in March 2013 when she won the vacant WIBA minimum-weight title with a six-round unanimous decision at the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, in Manila
It took the 27-year-old Filipina from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, only 2:14 minutes to stop the Thailander by TKO.
Abaniel dropped Yooksaikongdin with a left-right combination, and when the Thailander rose to resume boxing she was met with a barrage of body shots followed by a powerful uppercut from Abaniel.
The referee stepped in to stop the slaughter at 2min 14sec, taking Abaniel’s boxing record to 13 wins (4 by KO) and four losses.
Her management is now looking forward to Abaniel’s possible inclusion in the undercard of the coming Manny Pacquiao main event against Mexican-American Brandon Rios at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort in Macau, China.
_______________________
PICTURE:
Gretchen Abaniel with her world championship belt.
