By Ronnie Nathanielsz
When the entertaining fight card put up by well-known promoter Sammy Gellon-ani at the very impressive Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental last Saturday included a four round bout between Gretchen Abaniel of Puerto Princessa, Palawan and Manila girl Jessica Oyan, it was an indication that women’s boxing was picking up.
Australian Terrance Mogg, a former boxer who manages and trains the two girls and a quietly growing stable of fighters is hoping that other young women will take up the sport professionally and that someday in the not-too-distant future the Philippines will have a world champion.
The Abaniel-Oyan fight was a good one while it lasted but the 21 year old Abaniel, a technically sound boxer, proved too good for Oyan who was looking to throw her vaunted right but never got a chance against the slick Abaniel . Abaniel who looked in fine shape nailed Oyan, a former professional Muay Thai fighter, with a wicked right to win by TKO at 1:20 of the third round.
It was Abaniel’s third successive victory which included an impressive win over Li Hai Li in Yuanan, China last December 21 followed by a unanimous four round decision over Baina Lindo last March 3.
Oyan suffered her first setback after scoring a third round TKO in her debut against Jhugiet Ganado on May 18, 2006..
