Josie Gabuco takes home gold medal in Asian Boxing Championships

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino boxer Josie Gabuco showed her pedigree and trumped North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi to claim the gold medal in the Asian Boxing Championships Friday at Indoor Stadium of Hua Mark Sports Complex in Thailand.

Gabuco, a 32-year-old mother and a member of the national team for 15 years, silenced her detractors by displaying top-flight speed in conquering Kim in the women’s light flyweight final.

“She’s a talented girl with a lot of heart and has the ability to confuse the enemy,” said Don Abnett, a coaching consultan from Australia, of the boxing veteran.

“In the final match, she made the North Korean lass miss so many punches and delivered her own ones and twos to seal the deal.”

Philippine Olympic Committee head and ABAP president Ricky Vargas was all praises for Gabuco.

“She really deserves this win, she worked hard, focused, and believed,” said Vargas. “She did it all, I’m so happy for her.”