A Filipina boxer will see action in Senator Manny Pacquiao’s next fight as one of the eight-division champion’s undercards. Gretchen Abaniel, the reigning Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) champion, was promised by Pacquiao to be one of his undercards in his coming fight in June or July. And the 31-year old boxer from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan hopes to get a fight with World Boxing Organization (WBO) women’s straw weight titleholder Nao Ike­yama of Japan for a unification fight. During her visit with Pacquiao, she was asked if she’s fit enough to have a fight in June or July and Abaniel nodded. The WBO champion Ikeyama won seven of his last eight fights including a technical knockout win against fellow Japanese Ayaka Miyao last December 13 in Japan.

Source: Manila Times March 17, 2017 10:07 UTC