Pinay fighter, magtatangka sa IBF world championship.
TATANGKAIN ni Filipina world champion Gretchen “Chen-Chen” Abaniel na makahanay sa mga kampeon sa mas pamosong boxing organization sa pakikipagtuos kay reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) World female minimumweight champion Zong Ju Cai ng China sa Hulyo 12 sa Shenzhen Baoan Sport Center sa Shenzhen.
Ito ang unang pagdepensa ni Cai sa titulo na naagaw niya via split decision kontra Etsuko Tada ng Japan nitong Enero 30 sa Cotai Arena sa Venetian Resort sa Macao.
Tangan ang kartang 9-1-0, tampok ang isang KO, naging kampeon din ang 25-anyos na si Cai sa IBF Inter-Continental Female minimumweight, WBC International female minimumweight WBC International female minimumweight , WBC Asian Boxing Council female minimumweight, WBC International female minimumweight, at WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental female minimumweight title.
Hindi naman nababahala ang mas beteranong si Abaniel (17-8-0, 6 knockouts) na naging kampeon na rin sa Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) World at Global Boxing Union Female World minimumweight.
“To all my friends, I would like to let you know, my fight will be on July 12th 2017, for IBF WORLD TITLE FIGHT against world champ Zong Ju Cai Rank no. 3 in the world. It’s a big fight and opportunity for team Abaniel. Fight start at 19:30 location is Shenzhen Baoan sport center, Shenzhen China. Please come and support me. Sa lahat po ng mga Pinoy na malapit sa venue. Maraming salamat po!!!,” pahayag ni Abaniel sa kanyang Facebook page.
Ipinagmamalaki ng Puerto Princesa, Palawan, naitala ni Abaniel ang impresibong unanimous decision kontra Saowaluk Nareepangsri (6-2-0) noong Hulyo 2, 2016 sa Club Punchbowl in Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia.
Unang nakopo ng 31-anyos na si Abaniel ang bakanteng WBC International female minimumweight title via unanimous decision kontra Lily Kokietgym noong 2007 sa Manila.
Nasundan niya ito ng matikas na 9th round technical knockout kontra Thailand’s Nongnum Mor Krungthepthonburi noong February 7, 2014 sa Laguna para tanghaling interim WIBA world minimumweight title.
Nagtamo siya nang magkasunod na kabiguan sa abroad kontra Japanese Kumiko Seeser Ikehara via split decision noong September 20, 2014 sa Osaka, Japan para sa bakanteng WBO World female minimumweight title, gayundin kay Zong Ju Cai vai decision noong February 22, 2015 sa China para sa bakanteng WBC International female at WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental female minimumweight title.
Nakabalik sa kanyang porma si Abaniel at nakamit ang split decision win sa noo’y walang talong si Oezlem Sahin (19-0-1) noong November 7, 2015 sa Germany para sa bakanteng Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) World minimumweight title at Global Boxing Union Female world minimumweight crown.