Filipino slugger Gaballo set for rematch against Rodriguez

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez will have another chance against Reymart Gaballo after his rematch was granted by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Coming in as a late replacement for Nonito Donaire who contracted COVID-19 weeks before the clash against Rodriguez, Gaballo shocked the whole boxing world coming in as replacement and as a heavy underdog in the fight.

Gaballo did a pretty decent job of scoring points via his solid jab game and was a volume puncher against the veteran Rodriguez.

However, the Puerto Rican camp thought that Rodriguez did enough to be the winner of the slugfest and filed a formal appeal to WBC if they can stage a rematch.

“After a formal appeal was received by the WBC, a committee of ring officials completed a thorough analysis and review of the match, resulting in the order of free negotiations for an immediate rematch between Gaballo and Rodriguez,” wrote WBC in their statement.

Two judges scored in favor of Gaballo, 116-112 and 115-113 while the other one gave it to Rodriguez in a landslide, 118-110.

WBC’s decision regarding the rematch will allow both camps to negotiate the fight in 30 days and the winner will face mandatory challenger, Donaire.

The winner for the interim-bantamweight title will then face the WBC champion Nordine Oubaali this coming March.