Diosdado Gabi: Filipino Flyweight Title Challenger
Filipino boxer Diosdado “Prince” Gabi held the WBC International flyweight title in 2004. He later challenged Vic Darchinyan for the IBF flyweight world title, losing by technical knockout in the eighth round in 2006.
Diosdado Gabi’s international boxing career
Gabi came from Lasang in Davao City and boxed as a southpaw. Known by the nickname “Prince,” he developed his career in the Philippines before taking fights in the United States. His professional record begins in November 1999, and his opponents eventually included established names across the lighter weight divisions.
His challenge against Darchinyan took place at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, on 3 March 2006. Darchinyan retained his championship by stopping Gabi in round eight. The WBC International belt Gabi had previously held was a separate championship from the IBF world title at stake in that contest.
Recovery and the Abner Mares fight
Gabi responded to the Darchinyan defeat with four consecutive victories. He stopped Mauricio Pastrana, Felipe Rivas and Antonio Diaz, then defeated Jose Angel Beranza on a decision. That sequence brought him to a bantamweight meeting with unbeaten Mexican prospect Abner Mares.
The Mares bout, featured in the embedded video, took place in Las Vegas on 15 March 2008 on the Manny Pacquiao–Juan Manuel Marquez card. Contemporary reporting described strong support for Gabi in Davao, where the broadcast coincided with the city’s anniversary celebrations. Mares won by technical knockout. Gabi’s career record lists 30 wins, four losses and one draw, reflecting both his regional success and the difficult international opposition he faced.
Contemporary Philippine coverage and the recorded title bout document these career milestones. Sources: GMA contemporary preview; Career bout record; [1] [2]
Sources
Career records and reporting: boxrec.com.
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
