Donaire to defend bantamweight belt against fellow Pinoy Gaballo

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Current World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. will be making his first title defense against fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo when they clash on December 11 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Drawn into the initial plan of facing either Japanese superstar Naoya “Monster” Inoue or Johnriel Casimero, the WBC has ordered several mandatory fights which included facing Gaballo.

Gaballo, one of the country’s rising stars, is still undefeated in 24 professional fights with 20 wins coming via way of knockout.

Meanwhile, Donaire is coming off a stellar vintage performance to snatch the WBC belt away from former champion Nordine Oubaali.

It was a performance for the ages as the older Donaire picked Oubaali apart and displayed impeccable striking including the huge left hook that finished the show.

It will be an interesting all-Filipino WBC title fight as Gaballo’s aggressive style paired with his fluid head movements also resembles shades of a younger Donaire.

Aside from the highly-anticipated Donaire-Gaballo fight, Casimero will also be fighting in the same card against Briton Paul Butler for the World Boxing Organization 118-pound belt.