Andy Tabanas: Boxing Career and Notable Fights
Andy Tabanas, born Andre Abos Tabanas, was a Filipino boxer from Cebu who competed mainly at light-flyweight. He built a 40–5–2 professional record and won the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title in 2000.
Four world-title bouts
Tabanas had four world-title opportunities, ending with a record of no wins, three losses and one draw in those contests. In February 2001, he fought Thailand’s Fahlan Sakkreerin to a split draw for the vacant WBO junior-flyweight title. Two months later, Tabanas challenged Puerto Rico’s Nelson Dieppa for the same vacant belt in New York. Dieppa stopped him in the 11th round to become champion.
Tabanas also fought future Hall of Famer Ricardo López in 1995 and lost by a 12th-round stoppage. His recorded professional activity continued through the April 2001 championship bout against Dieppa. His championship appearances included minimumweight challenges as well as later opportunities in the light-flyweight division.
Further career results
His first world-title challenge came at minimumweight, against IBF champion Fahlan Sakkreerin in Bangkok on October 21, 1991. Tabanas lost a unanimous decision. Nearly a decade later, the same two men met for the vacant WBO light-flyweight championship in Las Vegas. Their split draw in February 2001 left that championship vacant, explaining why Tabanas could contest the same vacant belt against Dieppa in April. Between those title opportunities, Tabanas continued to face established minimumweights. He drew with Manny Melchor in September 1995, knocked out former IBF champion Nico Thomas in May 1996 and beat Melchor in their April 1998 return. He also outpointed Jerry Pahayahay in December 1998. His regional success in 2000 came in Honolulu, where he stopped Agus Ray for the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title. The sequence connects his earlier minimumweight challenges with his later work at light flyweight, rather than ending his career in the late 1990s.
His listed birth date is November 30, 1969, and his professional debut is recorded on April 29, 1989.
Sources
Additional sources: https://boxerlist.com/boxer/andy-tabanas/3705
- BoxRec: Andy Tabanas
- BoxRec: WBO light-flyweight title bouts
- Philstar: Tabanas after his 2001 title fight
- Philstar: Tabanas–Sakkreerin title bout
- Boxing Title Fights: Andy Tabanas
