Gretchen Magbanua Abaniel (born November 4, 1985) is a former Filipino professional boxer. She held the WIBA mini-flyweight title from 2009 to 2011 and the WIBF mini-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016. She has also challenged for multiple major world titles across three weight classes; the WBA, IBF and WBO female mini-flyweight titles between 2008 and 2017; the WBA female atomweight title in 2013; and the WBO female light-flyweight title in 2018.
Early life Abaniel's father thought she should learn martial arts like karate and she later grew interested in boxing, joining the national team to start her amateur career. Abaniel is a Seventh-day Adventist.
Boxing career Amateur Abaniel, a resident of Puerto Princesa, has been supported by her town's mayor, Edward Hagedorn, throughout her career, even when becoming part of the Philippine national team in 2003 due to inadequate support from the Philippine Sports Commission. As an amateur boxer competing for her country, Abaniel won a bronze medal at the 2005 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships in Russia. She has also won titles in tournaments held in Taiwan.
Professional Citing lack of support from the government, Abaniel turned professional in 2006.
Abaniel won her first world title match against Thailand's Nongbua Lookpraiaree after a tenth-round unanimous decision allowed her to capture the vacant Women's International Boxing Association World minimumweight title. She lost her title to Samson Tor Buamas in Sukhothai, Thailand on February 19, 2011.
2015 Abaniel won her match in Ludwigsburg MHP Arena, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, against undefeated hometown favorite, German-Turkish Oezlem Sahin for the WIBF/GBU world light flyweight title. Judges scored (96-94,94-96,99-91) granting her a split decision victory.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes29Loss18–11Seniesa Estrada4 (10), Jun 13, 201928Loss18–10Tenkai TsunamiTKO4 (10), Jul 29, 201827Loss18–9Cai ZongjuUD10Oct 28, 201726Win18–8Chamaporn ChairinUD6Sep 30, 201725Win17–8Saowaluk NareepangsriUD10Jul 2, 201624Win16–8Asiye Özlem SahinSD10Nov 7, 201523Loss15–8Park Ji-hyunUD10Aug 1, 201522Loss15–7Cai ZongjuUD10Feb 22, 201521Loss15–6Kumiko Seeser Ikehara10Sep 20, 201420Win15–5Thanya TuyonTKO5 (10), May 24, 201419Win14–5Sumalee TongpootornTKO9 (10), Feb 7, 201418Loss13–5Ayaka MiyaoUD10Nov 28, 201317Win13–4Dorkmaipa Keangpompetch1 (4), Aug 17, 201316Win12–4Chadaphorn SuklertTKO4 (10), Dec 2, 201215Win11–4Christine LatubeUD6Sep 29, 201214Loss10–4Teeraporn PannimitUD10Apr 25, 201213Loss10–3Katia GutiérrezTKO4 (10), Dec 10, 201112Loss10–2Siriporn ThaweesukUD10Feb 19, 201111Win10–1Buasawan WisetchatUD8Oct 2, 201010Win9–1Waranya YoohanngohUD10Mar 25, 20109Win8–1Buasawan WisetchatUD10Mar 25, 20098Win7–1Tukta PakabbuthUD10Sep 13, 20087Loss6–1Son Cho-rong4 (10), Mar 16, 20086Win6–0Napaporn BoonchuonUD10Nov 16, 20075Win5–0Li Hai LiUD8Sep 15, 20074Win4–0Baina LondoTKO3 (4), Apr 29, 20073Win3–0Jessica Oyang3 (4), Apr 21, 20072Win2–0Baina Londo4Mar 3, 20071Win1–0Li Hai Li4Dec 21, 2006
Titles and Accomplishment WIBA Women's International Boxing Association Minimumweight title (2009, 2014, 2016)WBC International female minimumweight title (2007)
Other Titles:WIBA Minimumweight Intercontinental TitleWomen's International Boxing Federation World Minimumweight titleGlobal Boxing Union Female World Minimumweight title
Appearances in media She was a contestant on the television program The Amazing Race Philippines 2, being a part of an athleticism focused duo with Luz McClitton.The Amazing Race Philippines Reality Fan Forum Retrieved April 25, 2019 She was also a guest on a morning news-talk program called GMK conceptualized by Daniel Razon.
She also participated on a Philippine variety show called It's Showtime:Trabahula on March 10, 2016
See also List of The Amazing Race Philippines contestants
References
External links