By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World-rated Diosdado “Prince” Gabi of the Philippines will battle IBF and IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia in a title fight 3 at the Chumash Casino & Resort in Santa Wynez, California on March 3.

Gabi’s manager, well-known boxing man Michael Koncz who has been instrumental in getting fights in the US for Bobby Pacquiao, younger brother of ring idol Manny Pacquiao, WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista as well as Gabi in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today confirmed that he had already signed the contract and that Gabi was stepping up training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach, considered one of the great trainers of today.

Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao first gained international recognition when he battered Lelohonolo Ledwaba to win the IBF junior featherweight title in Las Vegas in a fight arranged by Pacquiao's former trainer Murad Muhammad on a mere ten days notice.

The hard-hitting Australian who remains undefeated with 19 knockouts in 24 victories  earlier announced he had signed a contract to fight Gabi on arrival in Cancun. Mexico for the WBC’ gala “Night of Champions” in which undefeated OPBF minimum weight champion and No.1 ranked Rodel Mayol of the Philippines scored a spectacular fourth round demolition of Erik Morales’s fighter Lorenzo Trejo in a world title eliminator which was one of the fights on the blockbuster card put up by the WBC under president Jose Sulaiman.

Gabi who is a southpaw like Darchinyan is 26 years old and has a record of 26-2-1 with 18 knockouts. Gabi is coming off a four round technical decision over Mexican Alfredo Tirado some months ago. Gabi suffered a nasty cut because of an accidental head-butt and the referee was forced to go to the scorecards of the three judges who had Gabi the winner. The little Filipino. is ranked No.2 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF.

Darchinyan in his last title defense scored a 5th round TKO over Jair Jimenez who had a record of 22-4-1 with 16 knockouts. The 5’5 ½” Darchinyan is trained by former world champion and one of Australia’s all-time greats Jeff Fenech.