CARSON, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 10: Nonito Donaire reacts during a weigh-in before his fight against Reymart Gaballo at the Hyatt Regency LAX on December 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Nonito Donaire continues to reinvent himself as he stopped the much younger Reymart Gaballo by knockout in round 4 to retain WBC title.
Even at 39 years old, Nonito Donaire is still a champion who’s able to beat some of the best boxers in the world. He stepped into the ring with Filipino countryman Reymart Gaballo and made surprisingly quick work of the previously undefeated challenger.
Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs) is 14 years older than the 25-year-old Gaballo, but age hasn’t gotten the best of Donaire. Gaballo was fast, but Donaire was precise, which made all the difference.
Donaire vs. Gaballo was competitive in the first two rounds, but Donaire’s power started to make an impact. He cut Gaballo’s right eye in round 3 and drew first blood. The cut wasn’t serious, but it was the first sign of weakness from Gaballo.
Nonito Donaire KO’d Reymart Gaballo in a bid to earn a bantamweight unification bout
Donaire found an opening in the next round and ripped a left hook to Gaballo’s liver. Gaballo winced and took a knee in pain. He tried to beat the referee’s count and did make it to his feet and the count of eight but had to go right back down. The referee finished the count, which gave Donaire the 28th knockout of his career.
Gaballo (24-1, 20 KOs) came into the fight with better power numbers. He had an 83 percent KO rating to Donaire’s 57 percent, but Donaire’s power won the day. Donaire had a slight size advantage and has fought as high as featherweight.
Donaire retained his WBC bantamweight title and said that he’s ready to unify the division after the fight. Naoya Inoue has two of the division’s titles, and John Riel Casimero has the other. Donaire lost a close battle to Inoue in 2019, but it looks like it might be time to run that one back.
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