Filipino boxers Gabutan, Penerio lose in South Africa

Two world-ranked Filipino boxers lost in a fight card held last Saturday in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

Dayer Gabutan lost to hometown boy Vusi Malinga by unanimous decision in an IBF eliminator.  The winner of this fight earned the right to dispute the vacant IBF bantamweight world title.

Gabutan was ranked no. 8 by the International Boxing Federation while Malinga was a notch higher at no. 7.

The judges’ scores were 115-113, 117-111 and 116-112 in favor of the South African.

Three years ago, Malinga beat another Filpino boxer in Michael Domingo by unanimous decision in an IBF eliminator also held in South Africa.

Malinga would go on to lose to Leo Santa Cruz of Mexico, also by unanimous decision, in his world-title attempt.

Another Filipino fighting on the undercard, Eduard Penerio, was knocked out in the first round by Zolani Tete.  Penerio was ranked no. 11 by the WBO in the light flyweight division. The South African Tete is a former WBF flyweight titlist. /CORRESPONDENT rene bonsubre Jr.