TABANAO
COMING from a technical knockout victory against Australian Ibrahim Balla, Cebu-based WBO oriental featherweight champion Neiljohn Tabanao is set to leave for Accra, Ghana this month to face undefeated WBO Africa featherweight champion Isaac Dogboe on Aug. 26.
The 22-year old Tabanao, (13-1-0 (win-loss-draw) with 9 knockouts), is a native of Panabo City, Davao del Norte. He defeated Balla (9-1-0, 6KOs) for the vacant WBO oriental featherweight title last June in Australia.
His trainer Brix Flores admitted that the fight will be a tough one for his ward, who fights in Ghana’s capital Accra for the vacant WBC Youth world featherweight, WBO Africa featherweight and the WBO Asia Pacific featherweight titles.
Tabanao is aware of the disadvantage he faces.
“They are known to have questionable decisions and hometown decisions. But I’ll do my best to win decisively,” Tabanao told CDN. “I’m not thinking about a knockout because it will just distract my game plan. It will just come but I have to develop my power punches further to make that happen.”
Dogboe holds a record of 14-0-0 with 9 knockouts. He won five bouts in the United States, one in United Kingdom and one in Switzerland.
Tabanao is also wary of his foe’s talent, which is why he trained for this fight roughly a month after a brief vacation in his hometown.
He said he saw Dogboe’s fight tapes and said that his opponent must not be taken lightly. “You can’t predict the outcome of the fight so you have to be cautious all the time. He’s got power and skill so I won’t be complacent in this fight,” Tabanao said in Cebuano.
During his training, Tabanao sparred with quality boxers Adonis Aguelo, Anthony Sabalde and Ardie Boyose.