Reymart Gaballo stuns Emmanuel Rodriguez to take interim WBC crown

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

After accepting the challenge with only a two-week notice due to Nonito Donaire’s testing positive for COVID-19, Filipino young boxing pug Reymart Gaballo showed everyone he was ready for the bright lights after a split-decision victory over former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez to snatch the interim WBC World Bantamweight Championship.

Despite controversies surrounding the bout after the decision was made by the three judges, Gaballo believed that it was clear who won the fight.

“I controlled the fight. That was close but I’m so happy that I won the fight,” said the 24-year-old boxing prodigy.

It was Gaballo who drew first blood in their highly-anticipated matchup as he was just aggressive, trying to force the issue and hound the Puerto Rican in the early rounds of the fight.

However, Rodriguez recovered and decided to switch things up and went toe-to-toe with the Filipino slugger and was able to hurt Gaballo with a vicious right hand that helped him get back into the fight.

Both fighters went into a bloodbath until the end but the ring control and pressure Gaballo applied against Rodriguez was enough to help him pull-off a shocking split-decision win.

The upset victory racked up Gaballo’s winning streak to 24 and will most likely face Nordine Oubaali, the undisputed WBC champion who earlier contracted COVID-19.