Teeraporn Pannimit
Gretchen “Chen Chen” Abaniel failed to capitalize on another crack at a world title when she lost to Thailand’s Teeraporn Pannimit in a clash for the vacant WBO female minimumweight title in Bangkok.
The 26 year old Abaniel who lost her bid for the IBF title to highly talented Mexican Katia Gutierrez by a 4th round TKO in Sinaloa, Mexico last December 10 after dropping a ten round decision for the Women’s International Boxing Association and WBC Asia Boxing Council title to Samson Tor Buamas in Sukothai, Thailand on February 19, 2011 started off well against Pannimit but faded in the second half of the bout according to WBO Asia Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo and lost a unanimous decision.
Panoncillo told the Manila Standard all three judges scored the fight for the Thai girl. Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines and Indonesia’s Rois Muhammad scored it for Teeraporn 96-94 while Thai judge Surat Soikrachang had the Thai girl the winner by a wider 98-92 margin.
Panoncillo said it was a good fight with Gretchen “doing well in the early rounds and was winning the first half of the fight.”
However, the WBO executive said Abaniel “lost steam in the later rounds Terraporn came out strong throwing more effective combinations while Gretchen was more in a defensive mode, backing up and being less effective.”
Panoncillo said it was “a close fight.”
The younger 19 year old Teeraporn Pannimit had earlier also lost by a 5th round TKO to another fancied Mexican Jessica Chavez in an IBF light flyweight female title fight on January 14, 2012 but came back to win an eight round unanimous decision over Naporporn Superchamps whos real name is Napaporn Sor Ploenchit.
Abaniel who is handled by former Australian boxer Terry Mogg dropped to 10-4 with 2 knockouts while Teeraport improved to 16-5 with 5 knockouts.
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
