“Kid Showtime” 

• 2008 Ringside World Championships (amateur), 119 pounds – Gold Medalist…
• 2008 National PAL Championships (amateur), 125 pounds – Gold Medalist...
• 2006 National PAL Championships (amateur), 106 pounds – Gold Medalist...

At the age of 23, Gabino is a two-year pro. A sensational prospect at 122 pounds, he is a former amateur standout.

Manager Cameron Dunkin said, “Gabino is a very exciting fighter. He comes to fight and has tremendous power, especially with the left hook, and he can box. He’s got a lot of skill and balance, but his punching power is what really stands out.

“I turned him pro. I knew about him for a long time in the amateurs – he had a big name. He had an outstanding amateur career – he won the National PAL twice, he won the Desert Showdown several years in a row, the Blue & Gold. He did very well.

“He lives in the same area as Tim Bradley - I manage him, too. It’s a great, great area for boxing – the people there are passionate about boxing. Gabino brings 400 or 500 people to see him fight a four or six-round fight.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him. I think he’s going to be a huge draw, and he’s going to have a lot of success as a pro.”

Key Fights – 2012 - in his last fight on 8-3-12 in Las Vegas, NV, he won a 6 round majority decision against Dewayne Wisdom (2-3): the bout was on the undercard of the Mercito Gesta-Ty Barnett main event, and Gabino dominated most of the fight; he consistently outworked Wisdom, landed the harder punches, and rocked him several times; scored 59-55, 59-55, 57-57…

On 1-13-12 in Las Vegas he had a 6 round draw against Gil Garcia (5-2): the bout was on the undercard of the Chris Martin-Teon Kennedy main event – both gave strong efforts, and it was fast-paced, exciting fight; scored 58-56 Saenz, 58-56 Garcia, 57-57…

2011 – on 11-11-11 in Las Vegas he won a 6 round unanimous decision against Sergio Cristobal (3-2): the fight was on the undercard of the Diego Magdaleno-Emmanuel Lucero main event, and Gabino dominated; he consistently outworked Cristobal, landed the harder punches, and won by scores of 60-54 on all three scorecards…

On 9-17-11 in Parker, AZ, he knocked out Esteban Nichol (3-2): the bout was on the undercard at the BlueWater Resort & Casino, and Gabino quickly overpowered him; he scored a knockdown in the 1^st round, and Nichol was counted out at 1:49…

On 7-9-11 in Carson, CA, he knocked out Quincy Wesby (1-1): the fight was on the undercard of the Brandon Rios-Urbano Antillon main event, and Gabino quickly overpowered him; he scored a knockdown with a series of punches in the 2^nd round; Gabino scored two more knockdowns in the 3^rd - both with left hooks to the body - and Wesby was counted out at 1:41…

On 5-21-11 in Cabazon, CA, he TKOd James Owens (4-3): the fight was on the undercard at the Casino Morongo; Gabino scored a knockdown with a series of punches in the 1^st round – Owens got up, but Gabino rocked him again and the referee stopped the fight at 2:40…

2010 – on 12-4-10 in Anaheim, CA, he knocked out Jesse Adame (1-5-1): the fight was on the undercard of the Humberto Soto-Urbano Antillon main event; Gabino scored two knockdowns in the 1^st round – the first with a left hook, the second with a left uppercut; Adame got up but was unsteady, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:45…

He debuted at the age of 21 on 7-2-10 in Ontario, CA, and knocked out Brandon Sanchez (1-2): the fight was on the undercard of the Demetrius Hopkins-Mike Arnaoutis main event, and Gabino quickly overpowered him; he scored a knockdown with a double left hook – to the body, then head – and Sanchez was counted out on one knee at 0:34…

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Gabino was born and raised in Indio, California, and grew up in a family with two sisters…he started boxing at the age of nine and reportedly had 149 amateur fights (137-12)…

From the Palm Springs Desert Sun [Feb, 1, 2012 – excerpts]: Gabino Saenz was born at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital [23] years ago and has lived on and off in Indio ever since - including the last eight with his parents. The professional boxer is employed by the city of Indio and is the director of the Teen Center's boxing club. He recently purchased land alongside a house in Indio Hills for future use and says the vast amount of opportunities that are available keep him in “the right place” - Indio.

What's next for you, professionally and in the ring?

Finishing up school. I received my associate's degree in economics last year and am currently enrolled at the (California State University, San Bernardino) Palm Desert campus in pursuit of my bachelor's degree in business administration. I'm about a year and a half away of achieving that goal.

As far as in the ring, I just want to continue to train hard, keep my focus and be victorious. This year, I hope to grow and develop as a fighter and just be ready for whatever my promoter, Top Rank, and manager, Cameron Dunkin, have in store for me.

What's the most important thing in your life?

My family. I don't have hundreds of friends or many people I can rely on. My family has stuck by my side through thick and thin, no matter how much of a burden it put on their lives. My parents gave up their dreams in order for me to pursue mine, and my sisters are constantly setting aside their activities to make time to support me.

I thank God and constantly remind myself of the sacrifices they make and the struggles they endure. It pushes me to do my absolute best in all that I do - boxing, work and in school - so that one day all the sacrifices they made will pay off. [End Desert Sun item]

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

2009 U.S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Denver, Colorado, 125 pounds: in his first fight on 6-9-09 he won a 7-1 decision against Michael Santomauro; in the quarterfinals on 6-10-09 he lost a 6-4 decision against Kevin Rivers…

2009 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS - Salt Lake City, Utah, 125 pounds: in his first fight on 5-4-09 he lost by decision against Toka Kahn-Clary…

2008 RINGSIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Kansas City, Missouri, 119 pounds-open division – GOLD MEDALIST: in the finals he defeated Jeremy Durgin…

2008 NATIONAL PAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 125 pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: on 10-1-08 he won a 4-1 decision against Ralph Gramajo of Garden City, Kan.; on 10-2-08 he won a 5-0 decision against Guy Robb of Sacramento, Calif.; in the semifinals on 10-3-08 he won a 3-2 decision against Dewayne Wisdom of Indianapolis, IN.; in the finals on 10-4-08 he won a 5-0 decision against Andre Ramirez of USMC…

2007 NATIONAL PAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Oxnard, California, 119 pounds: in his first fight on 10-3-07 he lost a 14-4 decision against Shawn Nichol of Lakewood, Colo….

2007 OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS, Houston, Texas, 105 pounds: in his first fight on 8-20-07 he lost by walkover against Diego Hurtado…

2007 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 105 pounds: in the quarterfinals (his first fight) on 6-5-07 he lost a 9-8 decision against Diego Hurtado…

2007 PAN AMERICAN GAMES BOX-OFFS, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 105 pounds: in the semifinals (his first fight) on 2-10-07 he lost a 14-3 decision against Luis Yanez…

2006 NATIONAL PAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Oxnard, California, 106 pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in the quarterfinals (his first fight) on 10-4-06 he won an 18-5 decision against Malcolm Franklin of Rialto, Calif.; in the semifinals on 10-5-06 he won a 14-5 decision against Marco Rangel of Scottsdale, Ariz.; in the finals on 10-7-06 he won a 20-6 decision against Roberto Ceron of Lawrenceville, Ga….

2006 NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIPS - Omaha, Nebraska, 105 pounds: in the quarterfinals (his first fight) on 4-27-06 he lost a 4-1 decision against Roberto Ceron…

2006 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 105 pounds: in his first fight on 3-7-06 he won a 12-8 decision against Richard Morales; in the quarterfinals on 3-8-06 he lost a 11-10 decision against Vincent Montoya…

STRENGTHS: Has an aggressive style, good skills and movement…has tremendous punching power…had a strong amateur background…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 8 fights…25 total rounds…

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 3.1 rounds…

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 62 %...

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 6 rounds – 3 (2-0-1)…4 rounds – 0……