A WOMEN?S world boxing championship fight will be featured in the main event of a boxing card dubbed ?Duel at the Tent? at the annual Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Gretchen ?Chen Chen? Abaniel, who has a record of 7-1, 2 KOs and who is also a recipient of a major award during this Banquet of Champions, will battle Nongbua Lookprai Aree of Thailand for the vacant Women?s International Boxing Association world minimumweight title.

The 22-year-old Abaniel?s manager/trainer, former Australian fighter Terry Mogg, said the talented girl was in great shape and training hard and had been sparring with Eljune Leonardo of the Tiger City gym in Mandaluyong.

Mogg said Abaniel?s opponent was an ?aggressive, come-forward type of fighter? in the same style as another Thai in Lilly Rachaprachagym, who was beaten by Abaniel in a clash for the vacant WBC female international minimumweight title on Nov. 16, 2007 at the San Andres Sports Center during the World Boxing Council Convention in Manila.

Among those at special ringside, who were impressed by Abaniel?s showing, were popular former world featherweight champion Oscar Larios and Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez.

The only loss of the 23-year-old Filipina from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, was a controversial fourth-round technical decision to South Korea?s Cho-Rong Son in a battle for the WBA female minimumweight title in Korea.

In her last fight, Abaniel scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Star Por Omnoi, while Aree won a four-round bout against Petchchengrai Sitkrumad last Aug. 25.

Abaniel will be cheered at ringside by Mayor Edward Hagedorn who has given his full support to Abaniel since she started boxing professionally.

Also featured on the fight card at the Elorde Awards will be featherweight champion Vinvin Rufino, who takes on top contender Jaime Barcelona but what may well steal the show is the fight of undefeated Juan Miguel Elorde, grandson of the late ?Flash? Elorde, against Ronilo Romasanta. Ronnie Nathanielsz